Scream VII director exits film: ‘A dream job that turned into a nightmare’

Scream VII director Christopher Landon has quit and released a blistering statement, shortly after the high-profile exit of two of the film’s stars.

Scream’s director Christopher Landon and one of its stars Melissa Barrera have both exited the film. Picture: Getty/Supplied

Scream VII has yet another casualty — with director Christopher Landon revealing that he has left the embattled slasher flick.

“I guess now is as good a time as any to announce I formally exited Scream 7 weeks ago,” Landon, 48, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“This will disappoint some and delight others. It was a dream job that turned into a nightmare.

“And my heart did break for everyone involved. Everyone. But it’s time to move on.”

In a second post, the Disturbia writer stated, “I have nothing more to add to the conversation other than I hope Wes [Craven’s] legacy thrives and lifts above the din of a divided world.

“What he and Kevin [Williamson] created is something amazing and I was honoured to have even the briefest moment basking in their glow,” he concluded.

Landon claimed the job had “turned into a nightmare”. Picture: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix

The New York Post reached out to Landon and reps for Paramount Pictures, which revived the iconic ’90s horror franchise, for comment.

Landon’s exit follows the departures of the film’s leading ladies — Jenna Ortega, 21, and Melissa Barrera, 33.

Barrera was fired after she posted on Instagram about the Israel-Hamas war.

“I too come from a colonised country,” Barrera wrote in October beside a Mexican flag logo.

“Palestine WILL be free,” she added in her caption. “They tried to bury us, they didn’t know we were seeds.

“At the end of the day, I’d rather be excluded for who I include, than be included for who I exclude,” she continued.

In a second post, the Scream and Scream VI star compared Gaza to a concentration camp.

“Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp,” she wrote. “Cornering everyone together, with nowhere to go, no electricity no water.”

She added: “People have learnt nothing from our histories. And just like our histories, people are still silently watching it all happen. THIS IS GENOCIDE & ETHNIC CLEANSING.”

Barrera played Sam Carpenter in 2022’s Scream alongside Ortega and franchise vets Courteney Cox, David Arquette and Neve Campbell. She reprised her role for Scream VI, released in March.

Barrera was fired over an Instagram post about the Israel-Hamas war. Picture: Getty/Supplied

In a since-deleted November tweet, Landon briefly addressed Barrera’s exit.

“This is my statement,” he tweeted alongside a broken-heart emoji. “Everything sucks. Stop yelling. This was not my decision to make.”

In its own statement, production company Spyglass Media Group condemned the In the Heights star’s words.

“Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear,” the statement read. “We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.”

For her part, Ortega cited scheduling conflicts with Netflix’s Wednesday for her departure.

The new Scream instalment was slated to hit theatres in 2025 after being delayed by the actors’ strike.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Scream VII director exits film: ‘A dream job that turned into a nightmare’