Credit: NetflixIs Wednesday coming to a premature end? It seems that the fate of the franchise lies on the back of 21-year-old Jenna Ortega, who has very well shown that she is ready to blow up any franchise she touches, at any given time.
Jenna Ortega’s journey in the entertainment industry has been marked by a series of remarkable roles that have etched themselves into pop culture. Fueled by a passion for performance since the tender age of three, she realized her dreams by the age of nine. The pivotal moment in her career came with the lead role in the Disney Channel sitcom Stuck in the Middle. However, the trajectory of her association with Disney had unforeseen impacts as she navigated the challenges of maturing in the industry.
Venturing boldly into the horror genre, Jenna has become a notable presence in various chilling films. In the contemporary Scream series, she took on the character of Tara Carpenter. Her horror filmography also includes notable entries such as X, YOU, The Babysitter: Killer Queen, and Insidious: Chapter 2. Currently, she is immersed in the production of Death of a Unicorn, a horror comedy starring Paul Rudd. Additionally, she is set to grace the screen in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice 2, portraying Lydia Deetz’s daughter alongside the iconic Michael Keaton.
In past interviews, Ortega has spoken out on her affinity to play darker roles in horror-esque films, which makes up a lot of her resume. She said, “I am drawn to things that possess an unsettling quality, those that, upon closer examination, reveals a lack of traditional beauty.” She elaborated, “I am captivated by elements that evoke discomfort. They offer a fascinating array of storytelling possibilities. Moreover, portraying characters perpetually in a victim role provides me with an intriguing challenge in crafting unique personalities for each of them.”
It seems that she is also able to carry out that feeling of discomfort in her real life, never shunning away from controversy, as we have seen with the latest Scream drama.
The Scream franchise, conceived by Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson, stands as a pivotal series in horror cinema. Originating in the 1990s, it defied conventions by blending slasher horror with self-awareness and meta-commentary. The inaugural film, Scream (1996), propelled Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott into a cat-and-mouse game with the masked killer Ghostface, cleverly deconstructing horror tropes.
Its success led to sequels, with Scream 2 (1997) continuing the saga in a college setting and Scream 3 (2000) shifting the narrative to Hollywood.
A decade later, Scream 4 (2011) revisited Sidney Prescott, incorporating modern technology into its exploration of horror. The franchise’s key elements include meta-commentary, the iconic Ghostface mask, and a whodunit format with mystery surrounding the killer’s identity.
Its impact on the horror genre is profound, introducing a new level of self-awareness and influencing subsequent films and TV series. In 2022, the legacy continued with the release of Scream, the fifth instalment, which brought a new generation into the chilling world of Ghostface, as well as in 2023, with the sixth film released.
The later two films surround siblings Sam Carpenter and Tara Carpenter, played by Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, and was created by Spyglass.
The Hollywood Reporter shared, “On Nov. 21, it broke that Spyglass had fired Melissa Barrera from the upcoming seventh Scream movie over social media posts that company decision-makers characterized as antisemitic. Sources note the firing actually came a month earlier, in the early weeks of the Israel-Hamas war, when Barrera had become increasingly vocal. Before her firing, sources say her deal to return as Sam Carpenter, the lead character she introduced in 2022’s Scream, had been finalized.”
This firing came as a shock to many, as Barrera played the titular character in the film. Then, the horror fan franchise was shocked again to hear Ortega was departing as well. Initially, many thought that this was due to Barrera but really, it seems that her filming schedule with Netflix’s Wednesday was the cause.
Originally intended as the conclusion to a speculated trilogy centered around the Carpenter sisters, Scream VII faced a shift in focus when Jenna Ortega left the project. While the transition to emphasize Melissa Barrera’s significant character wasn’t a drastic pivot, the departure of both actors now necessitates a reimagining of the narrative from the ground up. Without the sisters, there is no film.
Now, even publications like The Hollywood Reporter are deeming this a “scary” time for the franchise, which will likely face another delay due to the loss of Barrera and Ortega.
Jenna Ortega has exploded since she initially stepped on the Scream screen, and now, is one of the largest young actors in Hollywood with over 70 million fans following her on social media. Ortega has also been linked to the success we have seen with Wednesday, as the actress has been credited to bringing over a large TikTok and Generation Z audience, expanding the core viewership.
Related: Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ Replacement Now Taking Over ‘Wednesday’
For those unfamiliar with the show’s premise, Wednesday Addams (The Addams Family) finds herself on the verge of expulsion from her school. This comes after she retaliates against the boys’ water polo team, who had been bullying her brother Pugsley, by introducing live piranhas into the school’s pool. In response to this incident, her parents, Gomez and Morticia Addams, make the decision to enrol her in Nevermore Academy. This unique private school, located in Jericho, Vermont, specializes in catering to monstrous outcasts.
As Wednesday navigates her new academic environment, her aloof and defiant demeanor complicates her attempts to connect with her fellow schoolmates. This, in turn, leads to clashes with the school’s principal, Larissa Weems. Despite the challenges she faces, Wednesday makes a surprising discovery—she has inherited her mother’s psychic abilities. These newfound powers prove to be invaluable as she becomes entangled in solving a local murder mystery.
Related: Rejected Disney Star Officially Cut From Netflix’s ‘Wednesday’
Wednesday surpassed 1.02 billion total hours viewed in just three weeks since its debut, the company announced, with over 150 million households streaming the show.
The show also stars Gwendoline Christie, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan, Percy Hynes White (who is being written out of season 2 following allegations), Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Georgie Farmer, Naomi J. Ogawa, Christina Ricci, and Moosa Mostafa.
With the Scream franchise being in turmoil following Jenna’s departure, and the clear correlation to Jenna and the success of Wednesday, it is clear that her departure from the show would likely end it. As we noted, the show did eliminate the role of Xavier Thorpe, another leading role, however, season two will not be heavily impacted as the series still has its lead attached.
We do know that Ortega is prioritizing feature films, so if something spectacular comes along, she may choose a new project over Wednesday. That being said, her departure from Scream shows that her dedication to the Wednesday franchise is currently strong.
Do you think that Wednesday could survive without Jenna Ortega?