UPDATE: It’s now been confirmed. However, Variety claims Ortega is out because of a scheduling conflict with her other project, “Wednesday.” Can you say bullsh*t?
I don’t believe this excuse for a second. I was told Ortega wanted out of her contract after last night’s Barrera firing …
EARLIER: After Melissa Barrera was fired yesterday, due to her Israel-Hamas war comments on social media, her ‘Scream’ co-star is also trying to leave the franchise.
I spoke to a producer who tells me that Jenna Ortega, who has been way more vocal about the Middle East conflict than Barrera, made a few phone calls last night — the goal was to get out of her ‘Scream 7’ contract.
As I had hinted about the Barrera firing, before the news even broke yesterday, I imagine that the trades will be tackling this story soon. Ortega’s departure would signal solidarity with co-star Barrera, but it shouldn’t be seen as that much of a surprise.
Earlier this year, Ortega was also accused of antisemitism on social media due to her pro-Palestinian stance. The Times of Israel even tried to compare her to a, shall we call him, beleaguered artist in an article titled "Jenna Ortega vs. Kanye: Whose antisemitic hate is worse?"
I wouldn't call this film great — it stops short of that because of how neatly it resolves itself — but I'll give Rock his due here: this is much better than his previous directorial effort, "Top Five."