Jenna Ortega has clarified the real reasons behind her departure from Scream VII, refuting earlier claims that scheduling conflicts with Wednesday season 2 forced her exit. In a candid interview with The Cut, the 22-year-old actress revealed her decision stemmed from creative changes to the franchise, including the firing of costar Melissa Barrera and the departure of directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.
“The Melissa stuff was happening, and it was all kind of falling apart,” Ortega explained. “If Scream VII wasn’t going to be with that team of directors and those people I fell in love with, then it didn’t seem like the right move for me in my career at the time.” Her comments follow Barrera’s 2023 dismissal from the film after Spyglass Entertainment deemed her pro-Palestinian social media posts “hate speech.” Ortega, who played Barrera’s onscreen sister Tara Carpenter, had initially been reported to exit due to scheduling issues—a narrative she now disputes.
The Beetlejuice Beetlejuice star also shared her broader shift toward original projects over franchise work. “I’m really trying to prioritize new directors and original stories,” she said, acknowledging fan confusion about her eclectic choices like the upcoming Death of a Unicorn. “If I can help get [original scripts] made, I love to do that.”
Barrera previously revealed Ortega reached out to support her after the firing, telling The Hollywood Reporter, “We’re sisters for life.” While Scream VII moves forward with returning legacy stars Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox—and without Ortega or Barrera—the film’s turbulent journey continues to overshadow its 2026 release plans.
