Jenna Ortega, Christopher Landon and Melissa Barrera.Photo:Phillip Faraone/Getty; Michael Tullberg/Getty; Alexander Tamargo/Getty
Phillip Faraone/Getty; Michael Tullberg/Getty; Alexander Tamargo/Getty
The nextScreammovie is in need of a new director.
Christopher Landon, the filmmaker whotook over directing duties forScream VIIback in August, shared in apost on X(formerly Twitter) Saturday that he is no longer involved in the project.
Landon’s departure from the forthcoming sequel follows November’s news that neitherMelissa BarreranorJenna Ortega, who costarred in the franchise’s most recent two films, will appear in the next movie.
“I guess now is as good a time as any to announce I formally exitedScream 7weeks ago. This will disappoint some and delight others,” Landon wrote in his post. “It was a dream job that turned into a nightmare. And my heart did break for everyone involved. Everyone. But it’s time to move on.”
“I have nothing more to add to the conversation other than I hope [originalScreamdirector Wes Craven’s] legacy thrives and lifts above the din of a divided world,” the filmmaker shared. “What he and [producer/screenwriter Kevin Williamson] created is something amazing and I was honored to have even the briefest moment basking in their glow.”
Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega.Philippe Boss/PARAMOUNT
Philippe Boss/PARAMOUNT
Landon, whose resume includes horror movies likeParanormal Activity: The Marked Ones(2014),Freaky(2020) andHappy Death Day(2017), firstacknowledgedhe would be involved inScream VIIback in August. He took over directing duties from Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who directed this year’sScream VIand 2022’sScreamand helped revive the franchise afterCraven died at 76 in 2015.
Scream VIsaw the series reach new highs when itscored the biggest opening weekendbox office yet for the entire franchise. The film was also the first in the series tocross the $100 million mark domesticallysince 1997’sScream 2.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The series' most recent films centered around Barrera and Ortega’s characters, sisters Sam and Tara Carpenter, while also featuring legacy cast members likeCourteney CoxandHayden Panettiere. Previous series leads Neve Campbell and David Arquette appeared in the fifthScream;Campbell did not return for the sixthdue to a contract dispute.)
Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding in ‘Scream VI’.Philippe Bossa/PARAMOUNT PICTURES
Philippe Bossa/PARAMOUNT PICTURES
“Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have 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,” Spyglass told PEOPLE in a statement at the time.
Ortega, 21, dropped out of the film shortly after, withDeadlinereporting at the time that Ortega’s departure was related to her busy filming schedule with Netflix’sWednesdayand the upcoming movieBeetlejuice2.
source: people.com
