Melissa Barrera Would Return to 'Scream' Only If Spyglass Loses Rights

Melissa Barrera, fired from the "Scream" franchise in 2023, said she would reprise her role only if Spyglass Media Group no longer held the rights.

The actress spoke in a recent JustWatch interview. She starred in two films: 2022's "Scream" and that same year's "Scream VI." Both came out before her firing. "Scream 7" opened in 2025 without her.

When asked about a return, Barrera replied: "not with the company that currently holds the rights."

What separates Barrera's grievance from the franchise?

Her criticism targets studio leadership, not the series. "I love the franchise," she said. "I had an amazing time making those movies."

She detailed her charge next. "A lot of the hate and the difficulty that I've faced in the last years is because the leadership of that company made it a point to label me something that I'm not," Barrera said. "And they never apologized, even when I was proven right."

The dispute centers on social media posts she shared criticizing Israel amid the war in Gaza, which began in October 2023.

Takeaway: The actress frames the conflict as institutional, not creative.

What did Spyglass say at the time?

The studio cited a zero-tolerance policy in a statement. Spyglass said it held "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."

Barrera has contested that framing publicly. She has not denied sharing the contested posts.

Would an apology actually matter here?

No, Barrera said. "Even with an apology, I wouldn't go back to work with them."

She left a narrow door open afterward. "Not that I'm holding my breath. I don't think they have that ability. But if the franchise were ever to leave those hands and go into hands that I think honor Wes Craven's legacy more, I think yeah."

Craven, who created the franchise in 1996, died in 2015 at age 76. The 2022 reboot continued his imprint.

Where does the actress see the industry shifting?

She pointed to rapper Macklemore. Ed Sheeran's tour removed him for supporting Palestine. Multiple acts — including Finneas — pulled out in solidarity, per the Associated Press.

"It was so beautiful to see Finneas and the band and all the opening acts pulling out in support of Macklemore," she said. "You know, I didn't get that when it happened to me. I didn't have any of that happen. It was too soon. People were too scared."

She added one line of context. "But it's good to see that almost three years later, at least things have changed."

From her 2023 firing to the 2025 Macklemore response is roughly two to three years.

Takeaway: Industry pressure on artist firings appears, by the actress's reading, to have grown between 2023 and 2025.

Three years removed from the franchise, Barrera continues to act. The "In the Heights" performer has other screen work moving forward. Whether Spyglass or the franchise relocates first may determine whether "Scream" ever regains its most recent lead.