How will Scream 7 talk about Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega leaving the slasher franchise and no longer playing Sam and Tara Carpenter?
Now that Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega left the franchise, Scream fans are curious about how the next movie can deal with their absences. With plot and character details being kept under wraps, no one is sure what the slasher sequel will be about. However, there will clearly be a focus on Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) giving her return.
Since both Scream (2022) and Scream 6 told compelling stories about new characters while also including legacy ones like Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox), it seems like Scream 7 will do the same. Scream fans have debated how the next sequel will talk about Sam and Tara Carpenter, and there are a few good ideas.
How Scream 7 Should Handle Melissa Barrera And Jenna Ortega’s Exits
Fans debated whether different actors will play the roles of Sam and Tara Carpenter or whether Scream 7’s script will mention the characters at all. Out of the two possibilities, it seems most likely that Scream 7 will address the absence of Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera with a brief explanation. How the script talks about the siblings depends on the plot of Scream 7. If the movie focuses on Sidney Prescott like people think it will and it has a brand new setting, then it’s easy for Sidney or another character to simply mention that Sam and Tara are away at college. This makes it clear that the characters, who were a significant part of the last two movies, haven’t been forgotten.
“It seems the writers are the same writers from Scream 5 and 6 and most of us agree that this was most likely planned as a trilogy. I personally hope they don’t recast since they’ve never recast in the history of the series. If the twins come back, I assume Sam and Tara will be name dropped. If they don’t then maybe not.”
Since several Scream fans think that Scream 7 can ignore Sam and Tara since their storylines were completed properly in Scream 6, it would make sense if a returning character mentioned them in passing. One Redditor wrote that when it comes to explaining what happened to the characters, “They don’t have too really, since at the end it was just them walking away. So that could be where their story ends.”
Another fan thinks that Scream 7 could address Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega’s exits by having one of their friends contact them when a new Ghostface strikes again. They wrote:
“For the most part, their storyline was completed in 6; Sam dealt with her issues while letting Tara be on her own. All they have to do is say that Gale or Kirby is still in contact with them and will reach out for help if they need it but they’ve had enough trauma for a lifetime and want to move on.”
Another fan has a different idea that would make sense: what if the events Scream 7 happened during the timeline of Scream 6? They wrote:
“I wanna see them do something different and tie it all together by having this movie take place at the same time as 6. While the Core Four and their group are getting targeted in New York, Sidney and her family are getting targeted at home – maybe even by a killer who’s somehow involved with the Baileys’ plan.”
This is a compelling idea that would fit within the franchise’s framework. The haunting ending of Scream 6 wraps everything up properly and makes it clear that Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera’s Scream characters are getting a happy ending, at least for now. If Scream 6 and Scream 7 happened at the same time, then it would be logical to reference the Carpenter sisters this way. While it remains to be seen if this plotline will occur, it does offer a way for the horror franchise to keep some consistency, which would be good considering all of Scream 7’s changes and updates.
What Characters Should Return To Scream 7?
Scream 7 should feature several returning characters such as Gale Weathers, Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere) Mindy Meeks-Martin (Jasmin Savoy Brown), and Chad Meeks-Martin (Mason Gooding). Now that Sidney Prescott is back, fans have debated Gale’s Scream 7 storyline
Which Other New Characters Appeared In Scream (2022)?
- Richie Kirsch (Jack Quaid)
- Amber Freeman (Mikey Madison)
- Liv McKenzie (Sonia Ammar)
- Wes Hicks (Dylan Minnette)
- Vince Schneider (Kyle Gallner)
Given Kirby’s popularity in the Scream franchise, it would also be a shame not to include her again at least in some way. While Scream 7 might not be completely about Kirby
, she could at least pop in to help since she’s an intelligent character who doesn’t mince words and who has been through a lot.
. It would be a shame to miss the opportunity for the two legacy characters to work together since they could use all the knowledge they have gained through fighting many past Ghostfaces.
Which New Characters Appeared In Scream 6?
- Laura Crane (Samera Weaving)
- Danny Brackett (Josh Segura)
- Jason Carvey (Tony Revolori)
- Anika Kayoko (Devyn Nekoda)
- Wayne Bailey (Dermot Mulroney)
- Quinn Bailey (Liana Liberato)
- Ethan Landry (Jack Champion)
Finally, since Chad makes it through Scream 6 and he and his sister Mindy are a crucial part of the Core Four, it would make sense for them to return. Chad and Mindy are strong, smart characters with great senses of humor and it would be disappointing not to see them again.
