‘Scream VII’ is grappling with yet another major setback as director Christopher Landon announces his departure from the project. Landon’s exit comes on the heels of actress Melissa Barrera’s firing and Jenna Ortega’s voluntary exit, creating an unexpected storm of controversy surrounding the horror franchise.
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Christopher Landon, known for his work on successful horror films like ‘Happy Death Day’ and ‘Freaky,’ took to social media to reveal his departure, describing what was once a dream job as having turned into a nightmare. The director expressed disappointment, stating, “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.”
The tumultuous journey for ‘Scream VII’ began when Spyglass fired Melissa Barrera over social media posts some characterized as antisemitic. Melissa Barrera’s departure, however, had deeper roots, as sources reveal her firing took place in October during the early weeks of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The actress had become increasingly vocal about the situation, leading to her dismissal from the film.
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Jenna Ortega, another lead in the movie, followed suit with a voluntary exit, citing scheduling conflicts with her commitment to the Netflix series ‘Wednesday.’ Although sources claim Ortega’s departure was unrelated to Barrera’s firing, TMZ reported that Ortega had liked one of Barrera’s posts supporting her pro-Palestine stance amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Christopher Landon, who was set to take over from the directing team Radio Silence, expressed his discontent after Barrera’s firing was made public. His frustration was evident in a now-deleted post where he stated, “This is my statement: 💔 Everything sucks. Stop yelling. This was not my decision to make.”
With Landon’s exit, the future of ‘Scream VII’ now rests on James Vanderbilt, the writer-producer responsible for co-writing the rebooted movies. Vanderbilt is currently working on the script and, with the loss of both Barrera and Landon, faces the daunting task of rebuilding the project from scratch.
Paramount Pictures, the studio behind the ‘Scream’ franchise, has faced criticism for its handling of the recent developments. The woke reimagining of the series, marked by recasting characters for modern Hollywood diversity and inclusion requirements, has raised concerns among fans. The departure of top stars like Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega has left Paramount in a challenging position, and the studio may need to reconsider its approach to ensure the success and continuity of the iconic horror series.
As fans await further updates on the fate of ‘Scream VII,’ the unexpected departures of key cast and crew members have undoubtedly cast a shadow over the once-promising project. Only time will tell how the studio navigates these challenges and whether the beloved horror franchise can recover from this unprecedented turmoil.
What do you think of director Chirsopher Landon quitting Scream VII after Jenna Ortega and Melissa Berrera exiting? Leave a comment and let us know.
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