Melissa Barrera Joins Forces with ‘Scream’ Filmmakers for Terrifying New Project ‘Abigail’
Melissa Barrera, known for her role in the 'Scream' franchise, teams up with acclaimed directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett once again for a thrilling new horror film 'Abigail'
Melissa Barrera has teamed up once again with former Scream directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett for another chilling horror film.
On Thursday, January 11, Universal Pictures unveiled the first trailer for Abigail, showcasing Barrera, 33, in a leading role alongside Dan Stevens, Alisha Weir, Kathryn Newton, William Catlett, Kevin Durand, and the late Angus Cloud. The film centers on a group of kidnappers who abduct the daughter of a high-ranking official, only to discover that she is a deadly vampire.
Bettinelli-Olpin, 45, and Gillett, 41, who had previously collaborated with Barrera on the fifth and sixth Scream movies, directed Abigail. In the slasher franchise, Barrera portrayed Sam Carpenter as a new group of friends was terrorized by the enigmatic Ghostface killer.
Despite being set to reprise her role for a third installment, Barrera was fired in December 2023 following her comments about the Israel-Palestine conflict. Spyglass Media Group, the production company behind the latest Scream films, later refuted that Barrera's pro-Palestine statements were the reason for her departure.
In that month, Barrera finally spoke out about the situation, condemning Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hate and prejudice against any group of people. She expressed her sense of responsibility as a Latina and a proud Mexicana to use her platform to raise awareness and lend her voice to those in need, noting her privilege of being heard. This was shared on her Instagram Story.
She added, "Every individual, regardless of their religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status, is entitled to the same human rights, respect, and freedom."
Jenna Ortega will not reprise her role as Tara Carpenter due to her commitments to filming season 2 of Netflix's Wednesday. Director Christopher Landon, who was set to take over from Gillett and Bettinelli-Olpin, later withdrew from the project.
Melissa Barrera in ‘Abigail’. Universal Pictures/YouTube
Landon, 48, officially announced his departure from Scream 7 weeks ago. This news may disappoint some and bring joy to others. What started as a dream job unfortunately turned into a nightmare, and it truly pained Landon to see the impact on everyone involved. He took to X (formerly known as Twitter) in December 2023 to share his thoughts: "But it’s time to move on. I have nothing more to add to the conversation other than I hope Wes [Craven’s] legacy thrives and lifts above the din of a divided world. What he and Kevin [Williamson] created is something amazing and I was honored to have even the briefest moment basking in their glow."
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Check out this great deal! Barrera has kept up her success in the midst of Scream drama and will be featured in the upcoming horror comedy Your Monster, set to premiere at this month's Sundance Film Festival.
Based on Caroline Lindy's short film, "Your Monster" tells the story of a young woman who develops feelings for a strange creature living in her closet. Lindy, who directed, wrote, and produced the spooky rom-com, assembled a talented cast including Tommy Dewey, Meghann Fahy, Edmund Donovan, and Kayla Foster.
