'Scream' 7 — the trailer, the controversy over Melissa Barrera’s firing, and the return of Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott

The first official trailer for Scream 7 has dropped, and it’s making waves.
It confirms the return of Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott — after she sat out the previous film due to pay‐disputes
The story seems to centre on Sidney’s daughter (played by Isabel May) being targeted by the killer, meaning Sidney is drawn back into the horror.
The trailer also hints at legacy characters returning (including past victims) and a possibly new mask or approach from Ghostface.

The controversy: Melissa Barrera’s firing & fan reaction

This is really the crux of the backlash around Scream 7.

Melissa Barrera, who starred as Sam Carpenter in Scream (2022) and Scream VI (2023), was fired from Scream 7. The cause: her social-media posts about the Israel-Hamas war. The production company, Spyglass Media Group, said that her comments “floated an antisemitic trope … false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion” and they invoked a “zero-tolerance” policy.
After Barrera’s exit, co-star Jenna Ortega (who played Tara in the prior films) also left the project — she later said her decision “wasn’t due to pay or scheduling” but because “the Melissa stuff was happening and everything was kind of falling apart.”
The trailer release revived the controversy — many fans commented that they would boycott the film unless Barrera was reinstated, or they criticised the studio’s decision. For example: “Do not forget what Spyglass did to Melissa Barrera … stand with Palestine. Boycott.”

Some fans are upset, saying the firing was unfair and are using the trailer as a platform to voice their grievances. The anticipation for the film is being affected, at least for a portion of the audience.
Others are more focused on the franchise legacy and Neve Campbell’s return, though even there the controversy hovers in the background.

The whole issue touches on big themes: free speech/social media, studio/image risk, political activism and how it intersects with entertainment.
Also, there were further behind-the-scenes fallout: the original director set for Scream 7, Christopher Landon, exited the project citing the toxic environment, threats and the ripple effects of the Barrera firing.

Neve Campbell originally starred in the first four Scream films (1996-2011) as Sidney Prescott. After the 2022 reboot and Scream VI, she opted out of Scream VI due to a salary dispute.
Her return in Scream 7 is significant: it signals a return to the roots of the franchise, presumably trying to reassure fans amid the turmoil.
It also raises expectations — with Campbell back, fans may expect the tone and quality to more closely align with the original era of the series.

Here are some take-aways and things to keep an eye on:

Impact on box office & fandom: The controversy might dampen enthusiasm for some viewers, while others may come back precisely because Campbell is back. How big the effect will be remains to be seen.
Franchise tone reset: With the return of legacy cast and the departure of newer leads (Barrera, Ortega) plus the behind-the-scenes shake-up, Scream 7 could mark a tonal shift — perhaps leaning more into “legacy sequel” territory.
Public image & studio risk: This is a reminder about how social media and politics now intertwine with film production; studios are rightly wary of controversies, but fan reactions can shift risk onto them too.
Narrative expectations: With Sidney’s daughter now in peril and classic characters returning, there’s the expectation for both fresh scares and nostalgic callbacks. The trailer suggests they’re banking on both.
Casting and creative stability: The film had to retool after the firings/exits — will that show up in the final product (e.g., rushed script, tonal inconsistencies) or will the production have smoothed things out.