The development of Scream 7 has been rather controversial since losing leads Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega. Now Scream 7 director Christopher Landon, who signed on to replace Scream and Scream VI directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, has exited the production he calls a “nightmare.”
The initial announcement for Scream 7 was thought to be an optimistic one. Scream VI ended things on a high note, with many fans hopeful for the franchise’s future. The announcement that Christopher Landon would join the project was met with excitement from his fans. After all, with films like Happy Death Day and Freaky under his belt, he seemed like a perfect pick.
Things became difficult when Melissa Barrera was announced to have been fired. Barrera, who plays Samantha Carpenter in the new films, made several social media posts regarding the conflict in Gaza. After she was fired for her posts, it was soon announced that Jenna Ortega, who plays Tara Carpenter, also left the project. She was said to have left due to a scheduling conflict.
Fans immediately targeted Christopher Landon as a result. The director dealt with backlash on social media for about a month, with Landon now confirming that he’s left the project. While he called the initial gig “a dream job,” he notes that it’s now “turned into a nightmare.”
Here’s his complete statement from the former Scream 7 director as shared on X:
“I guess now is as good a time as any to announce I formally exited Scream 7 weeks ago. This will disappoint some and delight others,” he begins. “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. I have nothing more to add to the conversation other than I hope Wes’ legacy thrives and lifts above the din of a divided world. What he and Kevin created is something amazing and I was honored to have even the briefest moment basking in their glow.”
more to add to the conversation other than I hope Wes’ legacy thrives and lifts above the din of a divided world. What he and Kevin created is something amazing and I was honored to have even the briefest moment basking in their glow.
— christopher landon (@creetureshow) December 23, 2023
It’s incredibly disappointing to see the production of Scream 7 become plagued with so many issues. Of course, this is far from the only film in the series with behind-the-scenes problems. In fact, Scream VI faced backlash after Neve Campbell walked away due to a salary dispute.
Of course, the film still managed to happen, so we’ll have to see what happens next with Scream 7. Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional updates as we have them.