Scream 7 Director Got Death Threats After Melissa Barrera’s Firing

Original Scream 7 director Christopher Landon has opened up about his horrible experience after being blamed by some fans for the controversial firing of Melissa Barrera. In late 2023, the Scream VI star was suddenly dismissed by Spyglass Media Group from the upcoming sequel to the slasher franchise after sharing her stance about the Israel-Hamas war on social media.

In March 2024, franchise creator Kevin Williamson replaced Landon as the new director for the seventh installment, which was written by Guy Busick. The new sequel will be led by franchise vets Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox as they reprise their respective fan-favorite roles as Sidney Prescott and Gale Weathers. The movie is currently slated to arrive in theaters on February 27, 2026.

Former Scream 7 director recalls receiving death threats

During a recent interview, Landon recalled one of the major reasons why he ultimately decided to exit Scream 7. Following Barrera’s abrupt dismissal and Jenna Ortega’s exit, the Happy Death Day filmmaker started receiving death threats targeting his kids.

“I got messages saying, ‘I’m going to find your kids, and I’m going to kill them because you support child murder,'” he shared. “The head of security at various studios and the FBI had to examine the threats. It was highly aggressive and really scary.”

In addition, Landon recently clarified his rumored role in Barrera’s Scream 7 firing, confirming that he actually didn’t have any part in the studio’s decision to cut Barrera from the sequel.

“I did not fire her. A lot of people think I had something to do with it, and it was not my doing. I had no control of the situation at all,” he explained. “I think in the absence of people understanding how Hollywood works and what the hierarchy is, the fans were like, ‘That’s the guy.’ And so they came for me, knives out.”

The next installment is also featuring the return of Matthew Lillard, David Arquette, and Scott Foley, who are reprising their roles as Stu Macher, Dewey Riley, and Roman Bridger, despite their characters’ respective deaths in 1996’s Scream, 2022’s Scream, and 2000’s Scream 3. In addition, it has also been confirmed that Jasmin Savoy Brown’s Mindy Meeks-Martin and Mason Gooding’s Chad Meeks-Martin are also appearing in the next sequel. Joining them are franchise newcomers Isabel May, Celeste O’Connor, Asa Germann, Mckenna Grace, Joel McHale, Anna Camp, Mark Consuelos, Ethan Embry, Sam Rechner, Michelle Randolph, and Jimmy Tatro.

(Source: Vanity Fair)

Source: Comingsoon.net