OG Scream Star Matthew Lillard Is Back for Scream 7

Matthew Lillard is returning for Scream 7. Deadline reports that Lillard, who memorably portrayed antagonist Stu Macher in the original 1996 Scream, will star in the seventh installment.

This news has Scream fans buzzing, especially considering Stu's fate in the first film. Will Lillard reprise his role as Stu, or will he take on a new character? The mystery remains, though Lillard himself hinted at his involvement in an Instagram post:

The original Scream cast is partially reuniting, with Lillard joining Neve Campbell (reprising her iconic role as Sidney Prescott) and Courteney Cox in Scream 7. Also starring are Scott Foley, Mason Gooding, and Jasmin Savoy Brown.

This is significant news for a film that faced considerable production hurdles. Melissa Barrera was dismissed from the project in November 2023 following social media posts regarding the Gaza conflict. A day later, it was announced that Jenna Ortega wouldn't return, meaning both Carpenter sisters, central to the series since 2022's Scream, were no longer involved.

In December 2023, director Christopher Landon also departed Scream 7, describing the experience as a "dream job that turned into a nightmare." Kevin Williamson, writer of the first, second, and fourth Scream films, subsequently took over as director.

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

Scream 7 is slated for release on February 27, 2026.