While the February 25, 2026, opening night of Scream 7 may have been a dual experience for some, with the glamour and flashbulbs of the red carpet on the inside, there was a small contingent of people who protested on the outside due to the firing of the movie’s erstwhile star, Melissa Barrera, back in 2023 due to her “antisemitic” and “hate speech” posts on social media.
Scream 7 release sparks renewed debate
And with the movie set to be released on February 27, it seems like the controversy is far from over. Kevin Williamson, the original scribe behind the original Scream script, spoke with the protestors with a surprisingly calm demeanor. “We live in a world where a lot of bad things are happening out there, and I think a lot of people want to be heard, and they want to have their voice heard about the bad stuff that’s happening,” he said. “My heart goes out to them. I don’t know if canceling Paramount+ is the way to do it. But I think people should listen to their inner self and do what feels good for them.”
Well, this movie has been a long and difficult road to get to this point. After the firing of Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega had decided not to be a part of the movie due to conflicting schedules, while director Christopher Landon had decided to resign due to an online backlash. It looked like the entire movie would implode at some point. However, it seems like the franchise is returning to its roots with Neve Campbell returning to her role as the iconic heroine Sidney Prescott in a highly publicized contract with Paramount+, while Kevin Williamson is returning to the director’s chair. It seems like the iconic heroine is returning to Woodsboro to live with her daughter (played by Mckenna Grace) until Ghostface strikes again. Yes, Courteney Cox and David Arquette return, while Matthew Lillard is also in it playing Stu Macher. It’s messy. It’s dramatic. It’s self-aware. It’s Scream.
