Summary
A former actress who appeared in the last twoScreammovies and was recently fired shared her thoughts about Neeve Campbell’s return. The young actress clarified that she “fully respects” the latter’s decision.
Campbell did not appear inScreamVIdue to a pay dispute. However, the actress, who is among the original cast members of the hit slasher franchiseScream, will reprise her role as Sidney Prescott inScream 7.Campbell announced her return to the franchiseon Instagram in March. “Hi All. I’m so excited to announce this news!!! Sidney Prescott is coming back!!!! It’s always been such a blast and an honor to get to play Sidney in the Scream movies,” she wrote. Her return came after another member was fired and the latter had some thoughts on Campbell’s comeback.
Melissa Barrera toldDeciderthat she “fully respects” Campbell’s return toScream. “We haven’t really spoken,” Barrera said when asked if she’s been in touch with Campbell. “I think everyone makes their choices, and what they think is best for them. I fully respect what people think that they need to do, to keep going in this life.” Barrera played Sam Carpenter, Billy Loomis' (Skeet Ulrich) daughter, inScream(2022) andScream VI(2023). She was supposed to reprise her role inScream 7but was fired after showing support for Palestine on social media amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. The franchise makers claimed that her pro-Palestinian social media posts were antisemitic.
Barrera’s exit was followed by several departures.Jenna Ortega won’t be returning due to a scheduling conflictas she was committed to filmingWednesday, Season 2.Christopher Landon also emptied the director’s chairand said it was not his decision to fire Barrera. In a since-deleted tweet, the director wrote, “This is my statement. Everything sucks. Stop yelling. This was not my decision to make.” He later announced his exit in a tweet on X, formerly Twitter, saying it was a “dream job that turned into a nightmare.”
Landon wrote the following to announce his exit:
I guess now is as good a time as any to announce I formally exited ‘Scream 7’ weeks ago. This will disappoint some and delight others. It was a dream job that turned into a nightmare. And my heart did break for everyone involved. Everyone. But it’s time to move on. I have nothing more to add to the conversation other than I hope Wes' legacy thrives and lifts above the din of a divided world. What he and Kevin created is something amazing and I was honored to have even the briefest moment basking in their glow.
Barrera’s firing had attracted mixed reactionsfromScreamfans. Many were disappointed because she played her part well and several did not find the reason for her exit acceptable, as it was reportedly due to her pro-Palestinian social media posts. Some took her firing as political censorship. Campbell’s comeback was announced shortly after Barrera departed from the franchise and it had been polarized, with some claiming it was the studio’s attempt to control the damage brought about by Barrera’s controversial exit. A number also felt that Campbell’s return would not compensate for Barrera’s absence.
There is no doubt that Campbell’s return will make many fans happy because she’s among the original cast members of the franchise and has been an important figure inScream. We can’t take the joy away from those who want to celebrate her return. However, it’s also understandable why many are sad about Barrera’s exit, with some even campaigning to boycottScream 7. Her personal stand on the Israel-Gaza conflict should not have affected theScreamstoryline. Now fans are left unsure whetherBarrera’s character, which was supposed to have a three-movie arc, would be recast. What’s best is to see Campbell and Barrera inScream 7as they could have co-existed in that world.
Scream 7will hit theaters on July 26, 2025
