Melissa Barrera Says No to Scream Return, Matthew Lillard Says He's Ashamed He Didn't Defend Her

Melissa Barrera is closing the book on Scream — at least under the current studio. In a new podcast interview, the actress who played Sam Carpenter in 2022’s Scream and 2023’s Scream VI was asked if she’d ever return to the franchise after Spyglass Media Group fired her in November 2023 over her pro-Palestinian social media posts. Her answer: not with the company that currently holds the rights, and not even with an apology. The one exception? If Scream ever changed hands and landed somewhere that legitimately honors the late Wes Craven’s legacy, she’d be willing to talk.

The conversation picked up even more steam thanks to her former costar Matthew Lillard, who publicly said he feels ashamed he didn’t defend Barrera when she was fired. That’s a rare admission from a franchise veteran, and it’s sparking bigger questions about solidarity, free speech, and how Hollywood studios handle actors who take political stances. Barrera also praised Macklemore’s recent pro-Palestinian advocacy and noted how much the industry climate has shifted in nearly three years since her firing.

So where does that leave Ghostface? Scream has survived reboots, recasts, and reinventions before, but losing its lead under these circumstances is different. Fans are now split between wanting her back and wondering if the franchise can even move forward the same way. What do you think — should studios ever fire actors over political speech, or should Scream find a way to bring Sam Carpenter home? Sound off in the comments.