Skeet Ulrich Confirms He’s Finished With ‘Scream’ After Melissa Barrera’s Firing

The ‘Scream’ franchise has been a topic of discussion among horror fans for years, particularly due to the enduring presence of Billy Loomis. Although the original Ghostface killer met his end in the first film, his influence has persisted throughout the series. Recently, Skeet Ulrich, who portrayed Billy, shared insights on why his story will not continue.

Skeet Ulrich first appeared as Billy in the 1996 classic and reprised his role in 2022’s ‘Scream’ and 2023’s ‘Scream VI.’ In these later films, Billy appeared as a hallucination to his daughter, Sam Carpenter, played by Melissa Barrera, providing Ulrich with an unexpected opportunity to return to a franchise he believed was behind him.

In a recent interview with Us Weekly, Ulrich stated that he does not envision a return to the series. His reasoning is straightforward: without Barrera’s Sam, there is no Billy. He also mentioned that the planned three-film arc he was promised never came to fruition, which was supposed to extend into the seventh installment.

This shift originated in November 2023, when Spyglass Media Group made the controversial decision to drop Barrera from the franchise. The company cited her social media posts criticizing Israel’s actions during the Gaza conflict, asserting a zero-tolerance policy for antisemitism and hate incitement. Barrera responded by condemning antisemitism while emphasizing her desire to raise awareness about important issues.

This decision significantly altered the trajectory of the next film. Jenna Ortega, who played Sam’s sister, announced her exit from ‘Scream 7,’ and director Christopher Landon also departed. The film underwent major changes, resulting in neither Barrera nor Ulrich appearing in the final cut.

The final cast featured Matthew Lillard, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Mason Gooding, with Kevin Williamson, the original writer, taking on directing duties. However, without Sam, the storyline Ulrich had been briefed about ceased to exist.

This isn’t the first time Ulrich has discussed his role. In previous interviews, he described his return as part of a three-film arc for Billy Loomis, where the character would gradually influence his daughter to become a killer herself, potentially turning her into a Ghostface.

He later shared with the New York Post that he once had a clear vision of the seventh film’s direction, which he found intriguing, but now feels disconnected from the project. He expressed excitement about Williamson’s potential direction but has made it clear that his involvement concluded with the initial plans.

In the interview, Ulrich also voiced strong support for Barrera, expressing that he found the situation difficult and believes she is on the right side of history. He acknowledged that he had faced criticism for continuing his involvement in the franchise.

This sentiment was echoed by another ‘Scream’ veteran, Matthew Lillard, who admitted at a recent 30th-anniversary screening that he felt ashamed to return for ‘Scream 7’ after Barrera’s dismissal. He expressed regret for not considering her journey when he was excited to return.

Barrera has also commented on the possibility of returning to the franchise, stating she would only consider it if the series moved away from Spyglass and to those who honor Wes Craven’s legacy. Even with an apology from the company, she has made it clear she would not work with them again.

While her comments suggest that the door isn’t completely closed, it seems unlikely to reopen anytime soon. For now, the franchise is moving forward without the characters who were central to its previous two installments. Whether the Loomis family will ever return remains uncertain.

For fans, this update is bittersweet. Many were eager to see the evolution of Billy and Sam’s story, and Ulrich’s remarks confirm that the narrative they anticipated will not materialize. The franchise continues, but it is evident that it has taken a different path.

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