Matthew Lillard is back for Scream 7.
Deadline reported that Lillard, who famously played antagonist Stuart “Stu” Macher in the 1996 original Scream film, will star in Stream 7.
Fans of the franchise will wonder how Lillard can be in Scream 7 given the events of the first movie. Will he reprise his role as Stu or play someone else? It remains a mystery for now, but Lillard did tease his involvement in a post on Instagram, below.
The OG Scream band is getting back together somewhat, with Lillard set to join Neve Campbell, who’s reprising her role as Sidney Prescott, and Courteney Cox on Scream 7. Scott Foley, Mason Gooding, and Jasmin Savoy Brown are in it, too.
It’s big news for a movie that, at one point, seemed like it might no longer be on the way after a tumultuous cycle of development. Star Melissa Barrera was fired from the movie back in November 2023 after a series of social media posts about the conflict in Gaza. Just a day after that news dropped, it was also revealed that star Jenna Ortega would not be returning for Scream 7, meaning both of the Carpenter sisters who have been at the center of the series since 2022’s Scream were no longer attached.
Then, in December 2023, director Christopher Landon also exited Scream 7, saying in a somber statement that “it was a dream job that turned into a nightmare.” Since then, Kevin Williamson, who wrote the first Scream movie as well as Scream 2 and Scream 4, has taken over as director.
Scream and Scream 6 directing duo Radio Silence announced in August 2023 that they wouldn’t be returning to direct Scream 7, but they are still attached as executive producers. Guy Busick, who co-wrote the previous two films in the series, is returning to write the screenplay.
Scream 7 hits cinemas on February 27, 2026.
Photo by Barry Brecheisen/WireImage. Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
