Melissa Barrera wants to return to Scream only without Spyglass Media
Melissa Barrera says she’d return as Sam Carpenter in Scream, but not while Spyglass Media controls the franchise.
- The actress said she loved the series and the shoots, but the current leadership is a dealbreaker for her.
- Her firing from Spyglass followed pro-Palestinian social media posts in late 2023; Barrera later said she would keep speaking up for people who need it.
What happened
Melissa Barrera said in an interview with JustWatch that she would like to play Sam Carpenter in Scream again, but only if Spyglass Media is no longer the company in control of the franchise. According to comments cited by IGN, her willingness depends on who holds the rights and creative direction.
Barrera said she loves the Scream franchise and had a great time filming the movies. At the same time, she made it clear that under the current circumstances she would not return, even if the parties involved apologized.
The context for that statement goes back to her firing in late 2023. Barrera played in Scream 5 and Scream 6 and was reportedly set to return for a third film alongside Jenna Ortega before Spyglass let her go after pro-Palestinian social media posts. Spyglass said at the time that it had “zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate.”
After her firing, Barrera said she was praying for “no more deaths, no more violence” and for peaceful coexistence, and that she would continue speaking out for those who need it most.
Timeline
Late 2023: Spyglass Media fires Melissa Barrera after pro-Palestinian social media posts.
Late 2023: Spyglass says it has “zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate.”
2023: Barrera plays Sam Carpenter in Scream 5 and Scream 6.
2026-09-26: IGN publishes an article about Barrera’s conditions for a possible return to Scream.
Background
Melissa Barrera was introduced in the Scream series as Sam Carpenter and became one of the central characters in the recent films. The current reporting does not mention any new production announcement, any change in the rights structure, or any confirmation that Barrera has been approached again.
The core of her recent statement is conditional: she is not ruling out a return, but she ties it to a change in who manages the franchise. Based on the available information, it remains unclear whether Spyglass Media would still hold the rights at the time of any future film.
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Sources
- IGN: Melissa Barrera says she would reprise her Scream role, reveals conditions for her return
- JustWatch interview as cited in the IGN article