Brutal fallout from star’s controversial axing from Scream franchise

“Have no clue”: One of the original stars of the Scream franchise has revealed the knock-on effect of Melissa Barrera being fired.

Justice for Billy Loomis.

Skeet Ulrich exclusively confirmed to The Post that he was set to appear in Scream 7, until Melissa Barrera was fired from her role as Billy’s daughter, Sam Carpenter, due to the actress’s social media posts about the Israel-Hamas war.

“I’m not involved. I’m really excited though,” the Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 star, 55, told The Post. “I’m excited for [Scream creator] Kevin Williamson to take the helm and to see what the mastermind of it all comes up with. I have no clue.”

“I used to know,” Ulrich continued, “because part of coming back for five and six was being a part of seven. It was a three-picture arc for Billy Loomis, or the imagination of Billy Loomis in Melissa Barrera’s character’s head. But when all that went down with her, obviously you lose her and you lose what’s in her head.”

Melissa Barrera was fired from the franchise. Picture: Supplied

Ulrich will not reprise his role in Scream 7. Picture: Supplied

Ulrich revealed “he used to know” the full plot of Scream 7 and it “was really, really interesting.” But now, he’s in the dark like the fans.

“I don’t know how Matt’s back,” he added, referring to his Scream co-star Matthew Lillard, who is returning for the upcoming film. “I have no idea, which I’m kind of excited for, to see it and not know.”

Ulrich and Lillard, 55, played the killers in the first Scream movie that came out in 1996. Over 20 years later, Ulrich returned to the horror franchise for Scream 5 (2022) and Scream 6 (2023), both of which featured Billy appearing in visions to his daughter.

But ahead of filming for Scream 7, Barrera was cut from the movie for what the film’s production company, Spyglass, deemed as antisemitic posts about the Israel-Hamas war. Jenna Ortega, who played Sam’s sister, Tara, later dropped out of the project.

Barrera in Scream 6. Picture: Supplied

In addition to Lillard, Scream 7 is bringing back franchise vets Courteney Cox, Neve Campbell and David Arquette. Scott Foley, who played Ghostface in Scream 3 (2000), is also returning.

“I love the series,” Ulrich told The Post. “I particularly love what we did in ’96. The camaraderie of making that movie that nobody had any idea what it would be or not be. I’ve done films like ‘Scream’ and ‘As Good as It Gets’ and things that seem to really be quite pervasive and you really kind of learn that you have to love the process of doing it and forget results because it’s not in your control.”

Ulrich, far left, was one of the franchise’s original stars. Picture: Supplied

Sadly for Scream fans, Ulrich doesn’t think Billy will appear in more movies.

“I don’t know how, given the set up,” the actor admitted. “But, you know, it’s horror. And I think the great thing about ‘Scream’ in general was it was all based in reality that this could happen. You don’t know who as you’re walking down the street could be a killer or not. So I hope if it does, it doesn’t get so far fetched that it blows that premise.”

Ulrich also confirmed that he’s remained friendly with the original Scream trio.

“I see David more than any,” he shared. “I mean, Neve I saw quite a bit. She just moved to London recently, and I became close with her husband. We played golf together and stuff like that and I’d see her at conventions, but I haven’t seen her much in the last year. Davey, I see three or four times a year at conventions. We don’t really get to hang that much, but, he’s such a sweet, funny guy.”

“Courteney, I saw in Montreal when we were shooting [Scream 6] and I think I’d seen her maybe a couple of other times in all those years,” Ulrich added. “And I haven’t seen her since.”

Ulrich’s next big role is in the sequel to Five Nights at Freddy’s. He told The Post he was cast in the supernatural horror flick thanks to Lillard, who plays serial killer William Afton.

“What Matt Lillard tells me, Scott Cawthon, who is the creator of the game and the writer of the scripts, had asked Matt sort of a vibe check on, ‘What’s he like to work with? I really want him for this certain part.’ Matt had great things to say, because I paid him,” he joked.

“Then I had a Zoom meeting with Scott and Emma [Tammi] who directed it, and it went great,” Ulrich recalled. “And they were like, ‘Let’s go.’”

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

Originally published as Brutal fallout from star’s controversial axing from Scream franchise