Comments on a potential return
Actress Melissa Barrera has indicated she would be open to returning to the “Scream” franchise under specific conditions. During a recent interview with JustWatch, Barrera addressed whether she would reprise her role in future installments, stating she would not work with “the company that currently holds the rights,” referring to Spyglass Media Group.
Barrera starred in 2022’s “Scream” and “Scream VI” before being let go from the franchise in 2023. “I love the franchise,” Barrera said. “I had an amazing time making those movies.” However, she added that she would only consider returning “if the franchise were ever to leave those hands and go into hands that I think honor Wes Craven’s legacy more.”
Disputes over social media posts
Barrera’s departure from the horror franchise occurred after she shared social media posts criticizing Israel during the war in Gaza. At the time of her firing, Spyglass issued a statement expressing zero tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech.
Reflecting on the fallout, Barrera stated that leadership made it a point to label her incorrectly and never apologized. She asserted that even with an apology, she would not work with the current company again.
Reflections on industry support
During her recent remarks, the actress also compared her experience to more recent industry events, referencing support shown for artist Macklemore after he was removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour due to his support of Palestine.
Barrera noted that she did not experience similar backing when she was dropped from “Scream,” remarking that people were too scared at the time. “It was too soon,” she said. “But it’s good to see that almost three years later, at least things have changed.”
