Matthew Lillard Returns for Scream 7
Deadline reports that Matthew Lillard, the iconic antagonist Stuart "Stu" Macher from the original 1996 Scream, will star in Scream 7. This news has ignited fan speculation about Lillard's role, given Stu's demise in the first film. Will he reprise his role or portray a new character? Lillard himself hinted at his involvement via an Instagram post (embedded below).
The announcement marks a partial reunion of the original Scream cast, with Lillard joining Neve Campbell (reprising her role as Sidney Prescott) and Courteney Cox. Also returning are Scott Foley, Mason Gooding, and Jasmin Savoy Brown.
This is significant news for a film that faced considerable production challenges. In November 2023, Melissa Barrera was dismissed from the project following social media posts. A day later, Jenna Ortega's non-return was announced, removing both Carpenter sisters, central to the franchise since 2022's Scream.
AnswerSee ResultsFurther complicating matters, director Christopher Landon departed in December 2023, describing the experience as a "dream job that turned into a nightmare." Kevin Williamson, writer of the first, second, and fourth Scream films, has since taken the directorial reins.
Radio Silence, the directing duo behind Scream and Scream 6, announced their departure in August 2023, but remain as executive producers. Guy Busick, co-writer of the previous two installments, returns to pen the screenplay for Scream 7.
Scream 7 is slated for release on February 27, 2026.
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