LOS ANGELES, Nov 23, (Agencies): Jenna Ortega has officially chosen not to reprise her role as Tara Carpenter in the upcoming Scream VII. The decision had been in the works for several months, predating the initiation of the SAG-AFTRA strike.

According to a reliable source, the absence of a finalized script for Scream VII posed a scheduling conflict for Ortega, as the filming timeline coincided with her other ongoing projects, which are now resuming post the conclusion of the SAG strike. Currently, the Primetime Emmy nominee is back on set, dedicating her time to complete the filming of Beetlejuice 2, with plans for a Labor Day theatrical release. Following this commitment, Ortega is set to jet off to Ireland in April to commence shooting for the second season of Netflix's Wednesday series, a project anticipated to extend into the summer months.

The announcement of Ortega's departure from the Scream franchise comes hot on the heels of Spyglass Media's confirmation of the termination of Melissa Barrera, who portrayed Samantha Carpenter in both Scream and Scream VI in 2022.