Skeet Ulrich Says Melissa Barrera’s Firing Ended His Planned ‘Scream’ Arc
“There’s no Billy Loomis” without Melissa Barrera, actor Skeet Ulrich told US Weekly, explaining that the firing of his co-star left him unable to complete the planned three-film arc for his horror franchise character.
Skeet Ulrich Links Billy Loomis Arc to Melissa Barrera
Ulrich starred in the original 1996 “Scream” film as Billy Loomis, and later reprised the role via digital and ghostly visions in both 2022’s “Scream” and 2023’s “Scream VI.” Speaking with US Weekly, Ulrich addressed his future with the intellectual property, stating that he does not see himself returning to the franchise following Barrera’s departure. Barrera played Sam Carpenter, who was revealed in the films to be Loomis’ daughter.
“He was in her head,” Ulrich told US Weekly regarding his character’s connection to Barrera’s role. “They had their chance at it and didn’t quite get to complete the three-film arc that they talked to me about.”
Spyglass Fires Barrera over Social Media Posts
Barrera was ousted from the films by “Scream” franchise producer Spyglass in 2023 following social media posts criticizing Israel amid the war in Gaza. At the time of the firing, the company stated it had 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.
Following the firing, Barrera’s on-screen sister, Jenna Ortega, announced she would not return for 2026’s “Scream 7.” Neither Barrera nor Ulrich appeared in the recent film, which instead starred Matthew Lillard, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, and others.
Matthew Lillard Expresses Regret Over Return
Last month, Matthew Lillard, who starred alongside Ulrich in the original 1996 film, admitted he felt ashamed for acting in “Scream 7” after Barrera was ousted. During a 30th anniversary screening of the original “Scream,” Lillard discussed his decision to rejoin the franchise.
“I went back to do ‘Scream,’ and I got called out. And I’m like, ‘Oh, fuck. That’s brutal,’” Lillard said during the screening. “I feel bad about that. I feel ashamed about that. Because in that moment I was so excited to go back, I didn’t really think about Melissa and that journey. I didn’t say no. I’m embarrassed; that’s the truth… I blew that. I’m on the wrong side of history for that. I still like being in the movie [but] it may not have been the best idea.”
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