Scream movie franchise has been dogged by controversy since entering development in 2023, with 2022's Scream and Scream 6 directors Matt Bettinelli-Opin and Tyler Gillett exiting the project due to scheduling conflicts with Landon taking over. Later that year, Barrera, who starred as Billy Loomis's daughter Samantha Carpenter, was reportedly fired due to comments about the Gaza war.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Landon discussed the events surrounding his departure and Barrera's firing. The director, whose thriller Drop releases April 11, spoke about his "dark" Scream 7 experience. Check out Langdon's comments below:

“Scream was a very dark and tumultuous experience. I was gobsmacked and in shock for a while, but I’m at a place now where I can talk about it ’cause I was able to use that unpleasant experience and turn it into something positive. And that was Drop.”

“People were threatening to kill me and my family, to the point where the FBI was getting involved. I got messages saying, ‘I’m going to find your kids, and I’m going to kill them because you child murder... The head of security at various studios and the FBI had to examine the threats. It was highly aggressive and really scary.”

He confirmed that Spyglass Media fired Barrera, not him. Unfortunately, Landon became a target, revealing that he and his family received death threats. Despite encouragement from the studio to start fresh for Scream 7, he decided to depart since the experience was "spoiled" and gave his well-wishes to returning director Kevin Williamson.

“I did not fire her. A lot of people think I had something to do with it, and it was not my doing. I had no control of the situation at all. I think in the absence of people understanding how Hollywood works and what the hierarchy is, the fans were like, ‘that’s the guy.’ And so they came for me, knives out.”

"They wanted me to continue on. They basically said, ‘You can restart it. You can figure it out.’ But the amount of abuse that I had to deal with—I decided I didn’t want to give any part of myself to that. For me, it was not worth it. I would rather put my efforts into something else, where I could feel appreciated and respected. The hate and abuse really spoiled it for me, and I lost my love for the idea of going forward.”

“In the midst of all the chaos, I was grieving the loss of one of my dream jobs. I went through all the stages—I was shocked, I was sad, and then I got angry. To be a part of this legacy, it was really hard to let it go.”

“There’s no resentment at all. What else are you going to do? Wallow? Then they win. My best revenge was making something cool, and I feel like I did with Drop. My revenge wasn’t rooted in pain or anger; it was rooted in joy and moving forward... I want Scream to succeed. Kevin probably made a banger of a movie, because he knows it better than anybody. It’s going to be awesome.”

What Landon's Comments Mean About Controversies Surrounding Scream 7

Ortega Recently Spoke Out About The Real Reason She Left

Landon's of the Scream 7 situation comes after Ortega recently spoke about her exit. Considering Ortega left the project not long after Barrera's firing, it was initially reported that the scheduling conflict was the reason. However, many people online suspected that she actually departed the project in solidarity following Barrera's axing, but that was never addressed until recently. In a recent interview, Ortega indeed revealed the real reason she left the project, citing her co-star's firing and the original team not being involved.

Even though the seventh installment will be without the reboot's main stars, it has moved forward with Neve Campbell marking her return, alongside franchise stars like Matthew Lillard. Ortega and Barrera's co-stars Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown will reprise their roles, which keeps the connection with the reboot cast. While filming is expected to wrap soon, it is expected to hit theaters on February 26, 2026.

Our Take On Whether Scream 7 Can Continue The Franchise Revival

There's Another Big Shake-up & Risks Have Been Taken

With Williamson, whose screenplay for the first movie launched the franchise, now attached as the Scream 7 director, the franchise has come full circle. With Scream 7's cast featuring returning stars from the franchise, there is plenty of fan anticipation, but more than a few risks are being taken too. The movie should be successful, but it's unclear if it will do enough to continue the franchise further. With Landon in the director's chair, Scream 7 could have been very different, but Landon fans have Drop to look forward to.

Source: Vanity Fair