Original ‘Scream 7’ director Christopher Landon says he left the project because the film “no longer existed” after Melissa Barrera’s firing: “The whole script was about her. I didn’t sign on to make ‘a Scream movie.’ I signed on to make that movie.”

In late 2023, it was reported that Barrera, who played new protagonist Sam Carpenter, was fired due to her social media posts about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Not long after, costar Jenna Ortega also left the Scream 7 cast, followed by Landon, who had been confirmed as director that August.

More details about Landon's decision to leave Scream 7 have now emerged in Your Favorite Scary Movie by Ashley Cullins. In the book, Landon reveals that Barrera's firing was directly responsible for his decision to quit, as he had built the entire story around her character.

"I made my decision to walk away about a week after they fired her. There was no movie anymore. The whole script was about her. I didn't sign on to make 'a Scream movie.' I signed on to make that movie. When that movie no longer existed, I moved on."