The 21-year-old playing Tara Carpenter in 2022's 'Scream' and 'Scream VI' reportedly will not return for the next installment due to 'Wednesday' shooting schedule.
- Nov 23, 2023
AceShowbiz - Another person is down in the "Scream" franchise. After Melissa Barrera was removed from the cast for "Scream 7", also written as "Scream VII", it's now reported that Jenna Ortega won't return for the next installment.
The 21-year-old's exit, however, has nothing to do with Barrera's firing. According to Deadline, the young actress wouldn't be able to return to the upcoming sequel due to a scheduling conflict with the second season of her Netflix series "Wednesday".
Ortega allegedly had discussed her exit from "Scream 7" before the actors strike began. As the site notes, a script for the upcoming movie isn't ready at the moment and the actress has to head to Ireland in April to begin filming the second season of "Wednesday" which will go into the summer. She also had a few extra days of shooting for "Beetlejuice 2" post SAG-AFTRA strike in order to meet its Labor Day 2024 theatrical release.
Ortega played Tara Carpenter in 2022's "Scream" and its direct sequel "Scream VI" (2023). Tara has a sister, Sam Carpenter, who was portrayed by Barrera in both films.
Due to Ortega's exit, "Scream 7" is allegedly facing full creative reboot. Variety reports that the creative team scrambles to make some alterations and present a fresh draft to filmmakers. While some set pieces and twists may be preserved, the movie will need to find new protagonists.
That may force the movie to resort to bringing back some familiar faces, such as Courteney Cox and Neve Campbell. Campbell returned in 2022's "Scream", but refused to reprise her role as Sidney Prescott in "Scream VI" due to a salary dispute.
Now, producers are keen to convince Campbell to reclaim her iconic character. They allegedly also consider nabbing Patrick Dempsey as another option. The "Grey's Anatomy" alum had a scene-stealing turn in 2000's "Scream 3", but has never appeared in subsequent movies. None of these actors, however, have been in active negotiations to star in "Scream 7" so far.
