Despite her sudden departure from the “Scream” franchise last November, Melissa Barrera remains one of Hollywood’s current Scream Queens and an actress on the rise. And while Radio Silence‘s “Abigail” didn’t stun critics, maybe “Your Monster” will. The Sundance selection hits theaters next month: not quite a horror movie, but more of a genre-blender about a struggling actress who finds a monster living in her closer.

Continue reading ‘Your Monster’ Trailer: Melissa Barrera Stars In A New Romantic Horror-Comedy On October 25 at The Playlist.

Back in November of last year, “Scream” star Melissa Barrera was unceremoniously fired from the franchise after she posted some pro-Palestine comments on social media. Not only was she fired from a future “Scream” movie, but she was called anti-Semitic. At the time, there weren’t many people backing her up, and one of her co-stars, Jenna Ortega, remained silent after also leaving the project. Now, Ortega is speaking out.

Continue reading Jenna Ortega Talks Melissa Barrera’s ‘Scream’ Firing & Says Hollywood Is “So Touchy-Feely” at The Playlist.

Major controversy hit the “Scream” franchise last year when lead actress Melissa Barrera was fired from the franchise following Pro-Palestinian/anti-genocide remarks that the actress made on social media, comments that Spyglass Entertainment viewed as antisemitic. Fans were confused, upset, and backlashed against the move, many angered by the way the series dumped her and then went back to re-casting original franchise stars Neve Campbell and Courtney Cox instead.

Continue reading Melissa Barrera Wants To Work With More “Spiritually & Morally” Aligned People After ‘Scream 7’ Firing at The Playlist.

Thanks to “Ready Or Not,” their two recent “Scream” movies, and entries in the “V/H/S” series, the Radio Silence team are the new “it” guys of horror. So what do Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett & co. have in store for audiences next? How about a creature feature that’s a twisted take on the classic “Cat And The Canary” premise?

Continue reading ‘Abigail’ Trailer: Radio Silence’s New Creature Feature Stars Melissa Barrera & Hits Theaters On April 19 at The Playlist.

The “Scream” franchise looks like it’s returning from the dead. Following some major controversies in the fall that led to its current cast either being fired or quitting today, Spyglass Media announced that Neve Campbell will officially return to play Sidney Prescott again in “Scream VII.” What’s more, in a move certainly designed to appease angry fans, the slasher will be directed by longtime franchise screenwriter and creator Kevin Williamson.

Continue reading ‘Scream 7’: Neve Campbell Officially Returning After Melissa Barrera Firing With Kevin Williamson Directing at The Playlist.

It’s barely been two months since Melissa Barrera got fired from “Scream VII,” but the actress has put the franchise and Spyglass Media in her rearview mirror. She’s still happy with her time working on the slasher series, though. Deadline reports that the actress talked about “Scream” at Sundance last night while promoting her latest film, Caroline Lindy‘s “Your Monster,” as well as the brief reunion she had with her franchise co-stars last weekend.

Continue reading Melissa Barrera Remains “Grateful” For ‘Scream’ Franchise Despite Ousting: “That’s Something I’ll Be Proud Of Forever” at The Playlist.

We might not be getting a new “Scream 7” starring Melissa Barrera, but given the way Spyglass messed up that whole situation and alienated all its fans, probably killing the franchise in the process, we got the next best thing that’s arguably even better. Cue the veil of mystery coming off Radio Silence’s new previously untitled monster movie, now revealed to be titled “Abigail.”

READ MORE: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2024

Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, aka the duo known as Radio Silence, known for “Ready Or Not,” and revitalizing the “Scream” franchise with 2022’s “Scream” and its follow-up “Scream VI,” their latest features an ensemble cast of Melissa Barrera, Alisha Weir, Dan Stevens, Kevin Durand, Kathryn Newton, Will Catlett, Giancarlo Esposito and Angus Cloud (in a posthumous film appearance).

Continue reading ‘Abigail’ Trailer: Radio Silence’s New Child Vampire Abduction Horror Stars Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens & More at The Playlist.

Less than 24 hours after her firing from “Scream VII,” actress Melissa Barrera is speaking out and breaking her silence.

“First and foremost, I condemn Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people,” Barrera wrote in a statement she shared on Instagram Stories (which you can read below in full).

READ MORE: ‘Scream VII’: Jenna Ortega Also Won’t Be Returning To The Horror Franchise For The Next Film

“As a Latina, a proud Mexicana, I feel the responsibility of having a platform that allows me the privilege of being heard, and therefore, I have tried to use it to raise awareness about issues I care about and to lend my voice to those in need,” Barrera’s statement continued.

Continue reading Melissa Barrera Speaks Out After ‘Scream 7’ Firing: “I Condemn Anti-Semitism And Islamophobia” at The Playlist.

If you went to sleep early last night, you missed one of the most ridiculously volatile evenings in film news in quite some time. And believe it or not, it all revolves around the rebooted “Scream” franchise, which is now without a leading lady. But that’s not really the controversial part.

According to Variety (and every other trade publication), the studio behind the “Scream” franchise, Spyglass, has decided to fire actor Melissa Barrera as they prepare to begin work on “Scream VII.” Why would a studio unceremoniously boot the lead actor in their hugely popular film franchise as they are preparing to begin filming?

Continue reading ‘Scream 7’ Star Melissa Barrera Fired After Pro-Palestine Comments at The Playlist.

Benjamin Millepied is best known for his work as a dancer and choreographer, from joining the New York City Ballet in the mid-90s to director of the Paris Opera Ballet, the choreographer for 2010’s “Black Swan,” and the mind behind the choreographed “sidewalk” in “Dune.” Now, in his directorial debut, he marries dance and theater with film in “Carmen,” a modern-day retelling of the classic opera of the same name. 

Continue reading ‘Carmen’: Director Benjamin Millepied Talks Working With Paul Mescal & Melissa Barrera In His New Romantic Musical Drama [Interview] at The Playlist.

“In the Heights” and “Scream VI” actress Melissa Barrera stars in “Carmen,” the directorial debut from choreographer Benjamin Millepied. Based on the classic opera, the musical is a modern-day adaptation that finds Barrera’s character on a quest for freedom in an immigrant story that follows her travels from Mexico to Los Angeles as she discovers herself. 

Continue reading Melissa Barrera Talks ‘Carmen,’ Taking On An Iconic Role & More [Interview] at The Playlist.

Radio Silence is the directing team of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, and they first landed on everyone’s radar with their Samara Weaving-led horror-comedy “Ready or Not. That also caught the attention of Spy Glass Media, who tasked them to direct the last two “Scream” installments—a seventh film now getting ready to go in front of cameras in the near future. However, Radio Silence is putting together a mystery monster thriller at Universal Pictures that is currently without a title.

Continue reading ‘Scream’ Franchise Star Melissa Barrera To Reunite With Radio Silence Filmmakers For Mystery Monster Thriller At Universal at The Playlist.

Thanks to last year’s performances in “God’s Creatures” and “Aftersun,” Paul Mescal is one of Hollywood’s hottest rising stars. And Melissa Barerra is on the rise, too, thanks to her breakout roles in “Scream,” “Scream VI,” and “In The Heights.” Now the two actors collide in Benjamin Millepied‘s “Carmen,” a gritty modern-day reimagining of Georges Bizet‘s opera of the same name.

Continue reading ‘Carmen’ Trailer: Melissa Barerra & Paul Mescal Star In Benjamin Millepied’s Feature Debut On April 21 at The Playlist.

When “Scream” landed in theaters in January 2022, a month that works well for horror but is also often considered a dumping ground for so-so content, the reboot/sequel was greeted with one of the biggest cinematic sighs of relief in recent years. Not only did it not suck, but for the vast majority of people, the fifth entry exceeded expectations and revitalized the film series. The gamble absolutely paid off. A little over one year later, breaths are being held again as “Scream VI” arrives with perhaps even higher expectations.

Continue reading ‘Scream VI’ Review: The Killer Franchise Delivers Again, Continuing To Carve Out A New Path With Great Success at The Playlist.

The big news about “Scream VI,” if you’re maybe paying half attention to the franchise, is that Neve Campbell is no longer part of the series, at least not this sixth iteration, and she apparently misses it.

“We were together over the weekend at a convention,” Skeet Ulrich, another former “Scream” alumni, told People this week. “She loves it; she loves what we’ve done.

Continue reading Final ‘Scream VI’ Trailer: Ghostface Returns To Slash Up New York City at The Playlist.

Sometimes a filmmaker is able to land two stars for a film that are right on the cusp of being huge. And apparently, that’s exactly what Benjamin Millepied was able to do with his feature debut, “Carmen.”

As seen in the teaser trailer for “Carmen,” Millepied has landed Paul Mescal and Melissa Barrera as leads in his adaptation of the famous opera. The trailer doesn’t do a whole lot to give away the plot, but if you’re familiar with the source material, you know the film is about the love between a military man and a bit of a femme fatale and the complications that arise from that. 

Continue reading ‘Carmen’ Teaser: Paul Mescal & Melissa Barrera Star In Benjamin Millepied’s Adaptation Of The Classic Opera at The Playlist.

Melissa Barerra broke out in the last couple of years with roles in “In The Heights” and “Scream 5.” Now, before she faces off against Ghostface again in “Scream 6,” check out another Barerra performance in “All The World Is Sleeping,” in theaters and on demand next month.

READ MORE: ‘Scream 6’: Melissa Barrera Promises That Upcoming Sequel Is “Potentially A Hundred Times Gorier” Than The Rest Of The Horror Franchise

In Ryan Lacen‘s first solo directing effort, Barerra stars as Chama, a single mom in New Mexico whose addiction issues may force her to give up custody of her daughter.

Continue reading ‘All The World Is Sleeping’ Trailer: Melissa Barrera Stars A Young Mother Battling Addiction On March 17 at The Playlist.

No one predicted that last year’s “Scream” would reinvigorate a franchise many considered well past its expiration date. After all, its predecessor “Scream 4” came out over a decade earlier, and slashers aren’t as viable today as they once were. But the Radio Silence crew won over both critics and audiences with their relaunch of the series, so much so that Spyglass granted them the creative control to take the franchise into uncharted territory.

Continue reading ‘Scream 6’ Trailer: Ghostface Slashes His Way Through The Bodegas Of New York City at The Playlist.

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett‘s horror “requel” “Scream” was a surprise success this past January. And everyone knows what that means: “Scream 6” is on the way, and fast. The sequel hits theaters next March, with Ghostface leaving Woodsboro for the first time to track down survivors from the last film. A slasher icon like Ghostface in NYC? Let’s hope “Scream 6” doesn’t end up like “Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan.”

READ MORE: ‘Scream 6’: Neve Campbell Won’t Return To Series As She Says Studio Offer Lowballs Her “Value”

“Scream” star Melissa Barrera shut down any fears like that about the sequel in a new interview with Collider.

Continue reading ‘Scream 6’: Melissa Barrera Promises That Upcoming Sequel Is “Potentially A Hundred Times Gorier” Than The Rest Of The Horror Franchise at The Playlist.

What does it mean to survive? The mere mention of the word conjures up a flurry of possibilities. Netflix’s new limited series “Keep Breathing” tackles two of the most prominent scenarios — humanity vs. nature and the fight against inner demons. Set in the Canadian wilderness, this limited series explores a lone survivor’s struggle to find her way back to civilization. 

Maggie Kiley and Rebecca Rodriquez share directing duties on the project.

Continue reading ‘Keep Breathing’ Trailer: Melissa Barrera Stars In Netflix’s New Survival Thriller Series at The Playlist.

“You’re the most derivative yet,” Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) says as she faces down yet another Ghostface killer. It serves as both a dressing down of the most recent iteration of the iconic villain and also a meta assessment of the fifth film in the “Scream” franchise. Set twenty-five years after the events of the first film, not only do the two films share a name, many beats are repeated like echoes in a canyon.

Continue reading ‘Scream’ Review: A Meta Legacy Horror Requel That’s Witty & Rewarding For Fans at The Playlist.

Following “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “The Matrix Resurrections,” and lord, every upcoming sequel under the sun, are you sick of the legacy sequel yet? Well, the legacy sequel and the studios who make them are not sick of themselves. So get ready for the fifth “Scream” movie titled simply “Scream.” Originated by Wes Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson, Craven died in 2015, and Williamson is only part of the franchise as an executive producer.

Continue reading Final ‘Scream’ Trailer: One Last Stabby Push To Get You In Theaters at The Playlist.

There’s an uncontainable joy that’s threatening to burst out of most Latinxs when they hear someone shout ¿bendición? in a movie. Even more so when it happens in a movie like “In the Heights,” one of the biggest Hollywood productions in recent years to feature Latinxs front and center in a refreshing way. The truth is, not all Latinxs can sing or dance like the characters in Jon M.

Continue reading ‘In The Heights’ Is A Joyous Celebration Of The Latinx Diaspora [Review] at The Playlist.

Thanks to his Broadway sensation “Hamilton,” Lin-Manuel Miranda is a superstar. The play won eleven Tonys, including Best Musical, and the Pulitzer Prize For Drama in 2016. On top of his own three Tonys, three Grammys, one Emmy, and one Oscar nomination, Miranda is not only decorated but now can do whatever creative project he wants for the rest of his life.  

READ MORE: ‘In The Heights’ Trailer: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway Hit Gets The Hollywood Treatment

One arena Miranda still hasn’t yet tackled is the movie screen; that is, until now (a live stage recording of “Hamilton,” released exclusively on Disney+ last July, doesn’t count).

Continue reading ‘In The Heights’ Trailer: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s First Broadway Hits Theaters & HBO Max In June at The Playlist.