Why This Fired 'Scream' Actor Thinks Paramount Lied About Box Office for New Film

One of the biggest headlines surrounding Scream 7, the latest release in the long-running slasher franchise, was the firing of actor Melissa Barrera - an outspoken advocate for the Palestinian cause - at the hands of production company Spyglass.

Months after the theatrical release of Scream 7, which has reportedly grossed over $200 million worldwide on a $45 million budget, Barrera (who was also dropped by her agency and management company) is speaking out on her belief that the film wasn't as successful as Paramount reported.

"I think they lied about the numbers. I don't think it made that much money," Barrera told Variety's Marlow Stern in a new interview. "But at the stage door [for Titanque], I sign Scream things every night. People who love me from those movies are coming to see the show, and they can't ever take that away from me.

Not only was Barrera fired from the project, but Jenna Ortega elected not to return, and the film's original director, Christopher Landon, dropped out. Paramount then leaned on nostalgia by managing to bring back original cast members Matthew Lillard, Neve Campbell, and Courteney Cox, alongside new cast member McKenna Grace.

"Oh, one hundred percent. I think they all are [scabs]," Barrera said when asked whether the returning cast members were crossing the picket line. "And they have to live with that. The only way they were able to make that movie after what happened was to nostalgia-bait as much as possible."

In that same interview, Barrera also revealed that she is starting a production company with the goal of working with "basically anyone pro-Palestine," listing names like Susan Sarandon, Hannah Einbinder, and Javier Bardem. "And for me, this is Chapter 2," the former Scream star concluded.

Paramount did not immediately respond to Men's Journal's request for comment.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 2:25 PM.