Exciting news for horror fans: Matthew Lillard is set to return for Scream 7. According to Deadline, Lillard, who captivated audiences as the notorious Stuart "Stu" Macher in the original 1996 Scream film, will be starring in the upcoming sequel. This announcement has left fans buzzing with speculation on how Lillard will fit into the new narrative, especially considering the fate of his character in the first movie. Will he reprise his role as Stu, or will he take on a new persona? Lillard himself has hinted at his involvement through an intriguing Instagram post, which you can see below.
The Scream franchise is reuniting some of its original cast members for Scream 7, with Lillard joining Neve Campbell, who is reprising her iconic role as Sidney Prescott, and Courteney Cox. Newcomers Scott Foley, Mason Gooding, and Jasmin Savoy Brown will also be part of the film's ensemble.
The journey to Scream 7 has been anything but smooth. The project faced significant hurdles, including the dismissal of star Melissa Barrera in November 2023 due to her social media posts about the conflict in Gaza. Shortly after, it was announced that Jenna Ortega, who played one of the Carpenter sisters central to the series since Scream (2022), would not return for the seventh installment. These developments led to uncertainty about the film's future.
Adding to the turmoil, director Christopher Landon stepped away from the project in December 2023, describing his experience as "a dream job that turned into a nightmare." However, the franchise found a new direction with Kevin Williamson, the original screenwriter of Scream, Scream 2, and Scream 4, stepping in as director. Radio Silence, the duo behind Scream and Scream 6, will not direct Scream 7 but will remain involved as executive producers. Guy Busick, who co-wrote the previous two films, is set to pen the screenplay for the new movie.
Scream 7 is slated to hit theaters on February 27, 2026, promising to bring back the thrills and chills that fans have come to love.
