Jenna Ortega Leaves Scream; Film Release February 2026

Jenna Ortega has clarified her departure from the Scream franchise, revealing it was not due to scheduling conflicts or pay disputes, as initially reported. Ortega left Scream 7 after co-star Melissa Barrera was fired over social media posts supporting Palestine, which the production company, Spyglass Media Group, deemed antisemitic. Ortega's decision was influenced by the departure of directors Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, with whom she had closely worked in previous films. The actress expressed that without the original team and her co-star Barrera, continuing with the franchise did not align with her career goals. Meanwhile, Scream 7 has seen creative shifts with Kevin Williamson taking over directing duties, and original cast members Neve Campbell and Matthew Lillard returning. The film is slated for release in February 2026.