In the upcoming weeks, SCREAM enthusiasts are poised for an intriguing phase, even though – apparently – no official announcement is forthcoming. The spotlight is on the interviews and promotional activities for “Abigail,” the subsequent project from Radio Silence and Melissa Barrera following SCREAM VI, and the controversy surrounding SCREAM 7.

The Hollywood Reporter recently initiated this discourse by examining Melissa Barrera‘s perspectives on her unexpected shocking firing from SCREAM 7 in November 2023, linked to her social media support for the Palestinian victims in the Gaza conflict.

Barrera expressed her deep affection for the franchise and lamented the circumstances leading to her departure: “None of this makes me happy. It was just all sad because I really, deeply care about the franchise. It’s just bad that it had to happen like that.”

Following the backlash against Spyglass Media Group—the rights holder and decision-maker of the dismissal—other key figures such as Jenna Ortega and director Christopher Landon also opted to leave, casting SCREAM 7 into tumultuous waters of production challenges and public relations difficulties. Reflecting on Landon’s exit, Barrera shared her disappointment:

“I actually don’t know what happened. He was very excited about it, and he had great ideas for it, so it makes me sad.”

The article further explores the ramifications of these departures, prompting fans to speculate on the potential directions of the film had these controversies not arisen.

Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, the duo behind the franchise’s 2022 revival and the successful SCREAM VI, had aspirations to culminate the series with a trilogy centered on the Carpenter sisters. Their desire to first focus on “Abigail,” that opens April 19th, clashed with the studio’s urgency for SCREAM 7, leading to their exit. “We got exited,” Gillett stated, with Bettinelli-Olpin adding:

“We’ll be sad that there’s not going to be an end to the Sam Carpenter story, but in our minds, we designed SCREAM VI so that the story feels complete.”

Melissa Barrera echoed this, acknowledging the uncertain future of her character:

“I’ve learned to never say never, but also a lot of things would have to happen for Sam to come back. For now, next page, next chapter, and then we’ll see what the future holds.”

Skeet Ulrich, in February, also hinted at a planned trilogy involving his character, Billy Loomis, and Sam Carpenter, which was aimed at exploring her inherited killer tendencies. “That’s sort of the idea that was pitched to me a couple years ago. That it was a three-movie arc, with that in mind. Now, I never saw any of the drafts of seven or anything that… And I don’t know, I mean, it’s possible that it didn’t include any of that as well. But yeah, that was my hope is that if it was going to mean anything, that it directly impacted the plot,” he explained.

The narrative took a positive turn at the beginning of this month with Neve Campbell‘s return to the series, alongside original screenwriter Kevin Williamson taking the helm as director. This shift signifies a complete creative reboot for SCREAM VII, despite previous setbacks including Campbell‘s departure over salary disputes during SCREAM VI.

Campbell‘s decision to rejoin the franchise sparked mixed reactions among fans, with some younger viewers perceiving it as a betrayal. However, from a broader perspective, we’re reminded of the transient nature of roles, ageism, and opportunities in the entertainment industry, emphasizing the pragmatic approach actors must often adopt. Such opportunities to work, especially in an iconic role like Sidney Prescott, are rare in the acting world, and professionals must seize them when presented.

That considered, we must underline Jamie Kennedy‘s sentiments on Sean Clark‘s podcast:

“Melissa is a role model. Brave, has three huge movies coming out this year. Her getting fired was bullshit, let’s just say. It’s complete bullshit. And I’ve never seen anything like it in this town. To have a rising star get fired in the middle of their ascension for an opinion. And I don’t think it was that wild of an opinion. If I’m going to get in trouble for that, I can back it up. She’s basically saying, I don’t want to see people get hurt on either side. That being said, can I be happy for Neve and sad for Melissa? Both things can be true. I think SCREAM is riding higher than it’s ever been, so I think Melissa will be back, just like Neve will be back. I think don’t mess with the fandom that is loving her.“