Actress Melissa Barrera has stated she is open to reprising her role as Sam Carpenter in the Scream franchise, but only if the rights to the series move away from Spyglass Media. Barrera, who starred in Scream 5 and Scream 6, explained her position in a recent interview, citing her experience with the company that currently holds the rights.
Barrera expressed her love for the franchise and her positive experiences making the recent installments. However, she indicated that the leadership at Spyglass Media created a difficult environment for her. "Not with the company that currently holds the rights," Barrera stated when asked about a potential return. "I love the franchise. I had an amazing time making those movies, but a lot of the hate and difficulty that I've faced in the last years is because the leadership of that company made it a point to label me something that I'm not."
She further elaborated that even an apology from the company would not be enough for her to consider returning, as she believes they are not capable of change. Barrera was fired by Spyglass in late 2023, reportedly due to social media posts she made regarding the conflict between Israel and Hamas. At the time, Spyglass issued a statement asserting it has "zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate."
Following her dismissal, Barrera released a statement expressing her commitment to advocating for peace and human rights, stating that silence was not an option for her. Her firing sparked backlash from fans, and led to other significant departures from the franchise. Actress Jenna Ortega exited Scream 7 weeks later, and director Christopher Landon confirmed his departure a month after Barrera was fired.
The subsequent film, Scream 7, reportedly saw a shift in direction, with familiar faces appearing and the film breaking box office records. However, it also received franchise-low reviews, with IGN awarding it a 6/10. Despite this, a Scream 8 is reportedly in development.
Barrera reiterated that her potential return would depend on the franchise moving to new management that would "honor Wes Craven's legacy more." Meanwhile, Matthew Lillard, who reprised his role in Scream 7, recently expressed that he was "embarrassed" by his return, stating that the public should have supported Barrera more when she spoke out. Details regarding Scream 8, including its cast and release date, remain unconfirmed.