Melissa Barrera reflects on being fired from Scream 7 a year later. The star played the lead role of Sam Carpenter in the 2022 reboot Scream and Scream 6, who is the biological daughter of the Ghostface serial killer, Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) in the 1996 film. Barrera was dropped from the franchise in October 2023 as a result of statements made about Israel and Palestine on social media.

Barrera opens up about how being fired from Scream 7 had affected her a year later. In an interview with The Independent while promoting her new musical comedy, Your Monster, the star itted that it was "the darkest and hardest year" and there were times when she felt her "life was over." Barrera revealed that things were "quiet" for "10 months," and though there were still offers coming to her, big studios have been stirring clear from her. Instead, Barrera refocused her energy on promoting Abigail, a film she did before Scream firing. Check out what she said below:

It was the darkest and hardest year of my life, and I had to reevaluate everything. There were times where I felt like my life was over. It was quiet for, like, 10 months. I was still getting offers for small things here and there – I’m not going to lie and say there was nothing – but [the message] was, like, ‘Oh, she probably doesn’t have work, she’ll say yes to anything’.

What This Means For Barrera & Scream

Barrera Is Seeing Her Career Bounce Back

Both Your Monster and Abigail came to the actor before Barrera's high-profile Scream 7 firing. Prior to being fired from the franchise, the actor had reflected on branching out. While the "10 months of quiet" made her fear that her career might come to an early end, the actor is currently working her way back. Barrera is set to lead the new Western thriller, In the Cradle of Granite, and is working on an untitled Peacock thriller series with James Wan and Simu Liu.

Sam and Tara were able to fill in Campbell's absence easily in the reboot, but the same trick doesn't work in reverse due to the more complicated relationships at work.

Barrera won't be the only heroine to be absent in the seventh installment in the Scream franchise. Prior to her firing, Jenna Ortega dropped out of the film due to scheduling conflicts. On the other hand, after not being able to secure Neve Campbell in Scream 6 due to a salary dispute, the original Scream star is set to return for Scream 7.

Our Take On Barrera Scream Firing

Scream 7 Needs To Think Outside The Box

Barrera and Ortega's absence in Scream 7 won't go unnoticed. Both Sam and Tara have been central to the reboot series' success. Losing them leaves a huge question mark for Scream 7 to solve. While Neve Campbell's return is part of the solution, she's obviously not enough.

Sam and Tara were able to fill in Campbell's absence easily in the reboot, but the same trick doesn't work in reverse due to the more complicated relationships at work. The franchise is in talks with 1883 star Isabel May to play Sidney's daughter, which only further complicates the timeline. The franchise still has a lot of figuring out to do before Scream 7 returns in 2026.

Source: The Independent