Scream VII director exited film over…
Like one thing out of a horror film.
Director Christopher Landon has damaged his silence on the true purpose he exited “Scream VII” two years in the past.
The “Drop” director, who stepped away from “Scream VII” in December 2023, revealed that he departed the slasher sequel over “aggressive” death threats towards his kids following Melissa Barrera’s firing from the franchise.
Director Christopher Landon and his household on the premiere of “Drop” on April 8, 2025. AFP by way of Getty Images
“It was a very dark and tumultuous experience,” he instructed Vanity Fair on Tuesday. “I was gobsmacked and in shock for a while, but I’m at a place now where I can talk about it because I was able to use that unpleasant experience and turn it into something positive.”
“People were threatening to kill me and my family, to the point where the FBI was getting involved,” Landon, 50, continued. “I got messages saying, ‘I’m going to find your kids, and I’m going to kill them because you support child murder.’”
“The head of security at various studios and the FBI had to examine the threats,” he added. “It was highly aggressive and really scary.”
The iconic killer Ghostface in “Scream VI.” Paramount Pictures
Barrera, 34, was axed from “Scream VII” in November 2023 after she made a number of statements about Israel and Palestine on social media.
Landon was named the new director of “Scream VII” in August 2023 after the unique administrators, Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, dropped out on account of scheduling conflicts after Spyglass allegedly tried to fast-track the film.
While Landon was signed on as director when Barrera was fired, he clarified that he “had no control” over her exit.
Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega posing collectively on the “Scream VI” premiere on March 6, 2023. Variety by way of Getty Images
“I think in the absence of people understanding how Hollywood works and what the hierarchy is, the fans were like, ‘That’s the guy,’” he defined Tuesday. “And so they came for me, knives out.”
“I did not fire her,” Landon emphasised. “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.”
Following his determination to step away from the “Scream VI” sequel in December 2023, Landon described the project as “a dream job that turned into a nightmare.”
Landon emphasised that he “had no control” over Barrera getting fired from “Scream VII.” Getty Images for IMDb
“I decided I didn’t want to give any part of myself to that,” he mirrored. “For me, it was not worth it. I would rather put my efforts into something else, where I could feel appreciated and respected.”
“The hate and abuse really spoiled it for me, and I lost my love for the idea of going forward,” Landon added. “In the midst of all the chaos, I was grieving the loss of one of my dream jobs.”
Jenna Ortega, who performed Barrera’s on-screen sister in “Scream VI,” just lately broke her silence on the true purpose why she departed the horror sequel back in 2023.
Ortega as Tara Carpenter in “Scream” (2022). ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
While it was initially reported that Ortega, 22, left the franchise on account of each “pay and scheduling issues,” she has since clarified that it was often because Barrera was fired and wouldn’t be returning.
Ortega and Barrera performed on-screen sisters Tara and Sam Carpenter in each “Scream” (2022) and “Scream VI” (2023).
The “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” actress additionally mentioned that she exited the franchise as a result of Gillett and Bettinelli-Olpin weren’t coming back to direct.
“The Melissa stuff was happening, and it was all kind of falling apart,” the “Wednesday” actress defined Monday. “If ‘Scream VII’ wasn’t going to be with that team of directors and those people I fell in love with, then it didn’t seem like the right move for me in my career at the time.”
Kevin Williamson, the franchise’s authentic screenwriter, has since changed Landon as director for “Scream VII.”
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