Sometimes movies change gears, shift narratives, and insert plot twists not for the sake of storytelling but because the world outside the set rearranges the stars. In Scream 7, a striking change leaves a Carpenter sisters-sized hole on the screens. Sam and Tara, played by Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, who were central figures in Scream (2022) and Scream VI, do not appear at all. Their absence lives as a creative choice, which explains the franchise's new path through clever storytelling.

However, the real events that caused the present situation are hard to ignore.

Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group fired Melissa Barrera, who played Sam Carpenter from the project in late 2023, after her social media posts about the Israel-Gaza conflict created controversy, which the studio deemed unacceptable conduct. The effects of her departure extended beyond production because it caused backstage chaos, resulting in the departure of multiple directors, such as Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, who had been working on the film. Barrera was removed from Scream 7 due to her vocal pro-Palestine posts.

In solidarity with Barrera, Wednesday star Jenna Ortega, who played Tara Carpenter, left the project shortly after Barrera departed, as the conflicting ideologies and circumstances around Barrera's exit made it impossible for her to continue the role. Ortega made it amply clear that her exit had everything to do with Barrera's treatment over the conflict.

“It had nothing to do with pay or scheduling. The Melissa stuff was happening, and it was all kind of falling apart," Ortega explained in an interview with The Cut. Meanwhile, Spyglass Media Group had stated its zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate policies while dropping Barrera. 

Despite the conflict and an incredibly low critics' score, Scream 7 has still garnered audiences, earning over $7 million already. However, it took a major change in the storyline to hide the gap left by Barrera and Ortega.

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Without spoiling any major plot points, it is safe to say Scream 7 needed major reworking after they removed Barrera.

Scream 7 establishes its main plot through Sidney Prescott, who represents the franchise's legacy while introducing innovative threats that emerge in Pine Grove. The film largely does not address the absence of Sam and Tara Carpenter throughout its runtime and provides only a brief reference to Sam, which serves as an indirect mention of her character.

The movie instead shifts its focus to Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and her family in a new small town setting in Indiana from New York City because the franchise needed her character to return after the backstage conflicts ended. Scream 7 continues the movie series while keeping the reasons for the Carpenter sisters' absence unknown to viewers.

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Did you miss the Carpenter sisters in the new Scream movie? Let us know in the comments.