Melissa Barrera will scream no more. The actress known for her role in the revitalized Scream franchise, will no longer be starring in Scream VII.
This decision comes after a series of social media posts related to the Israel-Hamas War. Barrera expressed strong opinions about the situation in Gaza, comparing it to a concentration camp and condemning what she referred to as genocide and ethnic cleansing.
“Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp,” she wrote in one post on Instagram stories. “Cornering everyone together, with nowhere to go, no electricity no water … People have learnt nothing from our histories. And just like our histories, people are still silently watching it all happen. THIS IS GENOCIDE & ETHNIC CLEANSING.”
She also insinuated that the media was siding with Israel and not telling the entire truth.
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Barrera played a significant role in the success of Scream (2022), contributing to its global box office earnings of $137.7 million. She also starred in Scream VI, released in March, which surpassed $168.9 million at the global box office. Christopher Landon, the filmmaker behind Happy Death Day, is set to take over directing duties for Scream VII from the original filmmakers, Radio Silence.
Filming had not yet begun, and development had been slow due to ongoing actors and writers strikes. With Barrera’s departure, Spyglass, the production company behind the Scream franchise, is expected to reevaluate its plans. Paramount, which handled distribution for the recent installments, is anticipated to continue its involvement in the new film.
In a separate development, actor Susan Sarandon was reported to have been dropped by talent agency UTA after making comments at a pro-Palestinian rally in New York City on Nov. 17.
