Matthew Lillard Returns as Stu in Scream 7

Exciting news for fans of the iconic horror franchise: Matthew Lillard is set to return for Scream 7. According to Deadline, Lillard, renowned for his chilling portrayal of Stuart "Stu" Macher in the original 1996 Scream film, will be starring in the latest installment. The big question on everyone's mind is how Lillard can appear in Scream 7 considering the fate of his character in the first movie. Will he reprise his role as Stu, or will he take on a new character? While it remains a mystery, Lillard himself has teased his involvement on Instagram, as seen below.

The original Scream cast is reuniting to some extent, with Lillard joining Neve Campbell, who will reprise her iconic role as Sidney Prescott, and Courteney Cox in Scream 7. The film will also feature Scott Foley, Mason Gooding, and Jasmin Savoy Brown.

This announcement marks a significant turn for a movie that faced uncertainty after a turbulent development cycle. In November 2023, star Melissa Barrera was fired from the project following her social media posts about the conflict in Gaza. Just a day later, it was revealed that Jenna Ortega would not be returning for Scream 7, leaving both Carpenter sisters, central to the series since Scream (2022), out of the film.

Further complicating matters, director Christopher Landon exited Scream 7 in December 2023, describing the experience as a "dream job that turned into a nightmare." However, hope for the franchise's future brightened when Kevin Williamson, the writer behind the first Scream, Scream 2, and Scream 4, stepped in to direct.

Radio Silence, the directing duo behind Scream and Scream 6, announced in August 2023 that they would not return to direct Scream 7 but will remain as executive producers. Guy Busick, co-writer of the previous two films, is set to return to pen the screenplay.

Scream 7 is slated to hit theaters on February 27, 2026, promising a thrilling continuation of the beloved series.