Director Christopher Landon, known for his work on the acclaimed “Yowl 7,” recently shared insights in the book “Your Beloved Horror Film: how the Yowl Series Redefined Terror” (via entertainment Weekly). He disclosed that he stepped away from the horror sequel shortly after Spyglass Entertainment dismissed Melissa Barrera due to her controversial social media comments regarding Israel and Palestine.
Landon expressed, “The film was no longer viable. The entire narrative revolved around her character.” He referred to Barrera’s role as Sam Carpenter, daughter of Ghostface murderer Billy Loomis (skeet Ulrich), who starred in both 2022’s “Yowl” and the upcoming “Yowl VI.”
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“I didn’t sign up to create just any ‘Yowl’ film; I committed to making that specific story. Once it ceased to exist, I chose to move on,” he added.
Barrera’s termination from ”Yowl 7″ occurred in November 2023, but Landon’s exit wasn’t publicly acknowledged until a month later, despite him having distanced himself from the project much earlier. In his interview, he mentioned wanting to handle the aftermath of Barrera’s firing discreetly; however, this became increasingly difficult as social media users directed death threats at him under the false impression that he was responsible for her dismissal.
Landon reflected on his emotional turmoil during this period: “I was still processing everything that had transpired. When it all unfolded, I aimed to navigate my feelings privately and thoughtfully.” He noted how public figures ofen face pressure for immediate responses when controversies arise: “People expect you to react quickly and cater to their demands.”
The director revealed that he announced his departure from “Yowl 7” after receiving escalating threats: “They were targeting someone who wasn’t even involved with the film anymore. Many believed I was some sort of antagonist in this situation. That really affected me deeply—it was painful losing a dream job so abruptly and unexpectedly.”
Landon previously informed Conceitedness Gorgeous about receiving alarming death threats during this time frame: “The messages were extremely aggressive and genuinely terrifying.” He recounted one particularly disturbing message stating intentions against his children due to perceived support for violence against minors linked with his professional decisions.
“The heads of security at various studios along with FBI officials had to investigate these threats… I did not terminate [Melissa]. A lot of people mistakenly think I played a role in it; however, it wasn’t my decision at all,” Landon clarified.
When announcing his exit via social media in December 2023, Landon described what began as an exciting opportunity—“Yowl 7”—as having devolved into a nightmare scenario. He reiterated how these death threats influenced his decision-making process.
“I realized there was no need for me to sacrifice any part of myself over this,” Landon stated regarding leaving the sequel behind. “For me personally, it simply wasn’t worth it anymore. I’d rather invest my energy into projects where I’m valued and respected.” The negativity surrounding him ultimately soured what should have been an exhilarating experience.
in light of these developments, Kevin Williamson—the original writer behind both “Yowl,” its sequels including “Yowl 2,” and “Yowl 4”—has stepped up as director with an entirely new vision for the movie.Neve campbell will reprise her iconic role as Sidney Prescott after taking a break during “Yowl VI.” This latest installment is set for theatrical release on February 27th.