Melissa Barrera has indicated she is open to returning to the Scream franchise, but she has attached a strict condition to that possibility. Speaking on a recent appearance with Just Watch, Barrera, who starred as Samantha Carpenter in 2022’s Scream and 2023’s Scream VI, stated she would not return under the banner of Spyglass, the company that currently holds the rights to the franchise.
The actress was fired from the series nearly three years ago following pro-Palestinian social media posts that Spyglass deemed antisemitic. In those posts, Barrera called out “atrocities being committed against Palestinians” and compared Gaza to a “concentration camp” in one deleted post. A Spyglass spokesperson responded at the time, stating the company has “zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form.” Barrera clarified that even if Spyglass were to issue an apology, she “wouldn’t go back to work with them.” A representative for Spyglass did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment regarding her recent remarks.
Barrera’s departure triggered significant changes within the franchise. Her onscreen sister, Jenna Ortega, subsequently exited the horror series, noting in a later comment that the follow-up film was “kind of falling apart” without her former co-star. To fill the resulting gap for 2026’s Scream 7, Neve Campbell returned to the franchise after previously skipping Scream VI due to a low salary offer. Despite the surrounding controversy, the 2023 installment, written and directed by original Scream screenwriter Kevin Williamson, generated $214 million at the box office.