Matthew Lillard is set to return for Scream 7, reprising his iconic role as Stuart "Stu" Macher from the original 1996 Scream film. This news, reported by Deadline, has sparked excitement and curiosity among fans, particularly regarding how Lillard's character could reappear given the events of the first movie. Lillard himself teased his involvement through an Instagram post, adding to the anticipation.
The ensemble cast is shaping up to be a reunion of sorts, with Lillard joining Neve Campbell, who will reprise her role as Sidney Prescott, and Courteney Cox. Additional cast members include Scott Foley, Mason Gooding, and Jasmin Savoy Brown.
The journey to Scream 7 has been tumultuous. The film faced significant hurdles when Melissa Barrera was fired in November 2023 due to her social media posts about the conflict in Gaza. Shortly after, Jenna Ortega announced she would not return, leaving the Carpenter sisters, central to the recent films, out of the project. In December 2023, director Christopher Landon also exited the film, describing his experience as a "dream job that turned into a nightmare." However, the project found new direction with Kevin Williamson, the writer of the first, second, and fourth Scream films, stepping 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 write the screenplay for Scream 7.
Fans can mark their calendars for February 27, 2026, when Scream 7 is scheduled to hit cinemas.
