Matthew Lillard, known for his iconic role as the antagonist Stuart "Stu" Macher in the original 1996 Scream film, is set to make a thrilling return in Scream 7, according to Deadline. This news has sparked excitement and curiosity among fans, who are eager to see how Lillard will fit into the new installment, given the fate of his character in the first movie. Will he reprise his role as Stu, or will he take on a new character? Lillard himself teased his involvement with an intriguing Instagram post, shared below.
The original Scream cast is partially reuniting for Scream 7, with Lillard joining Neve Campbell, who returns as Sidney Prescott, and Courteney Cox. They will be accompanied by Scott Foley, Mason Gooding, and Jasmin Savoy Brown. This news comes as a welcome development for a film that faced uncertainty after a challenging production cycle.
The project hit a rough patch when star Melissa Barrera was fired in November 2023 following her social media posts about the conflict in Gaza. Just a day later, it was announced that Jenna Ortega would not be returning for Scream 7, meaning both Carpenter sisters, central to the series since the 2022 Scream reboot, were no longer part of the cast.
Further complicating matters, director Christopher Landon exited the project in December 2023, describing it as a "dream job that turned into a nightmare." However, the film found new direction with Kevin Williamson, the writer of the original Scream, Scream 2, and Scream 4, taking over as director. Radio Silence, the directing duo behind Scream and Scream 6, announced in August 2023 that they would not return to direct Scream 7 but remain attached as executive producers. Guy Busick, co-writer of the previous two films, is set to pen the screenplay for Scream 7.
Scream 7 is slated to hit cinemas on February 27, 2026, promising fans another thrilling chapter in the beloved franchise.
