Matthew Lillard Returns as OG Scream Star in Scream 7

Exciting news for fans of the *Scream* franchise: Matthew Lillard, known for his iconic role as Stuart "Stu" Macher in the original 1996 *Scream* film, is set to return for *Scream 7*. According to Deadline, Lillard's involvement marks a thrilling development for the series. Fans are buzzing with anticipation and curiosity about how Lillard can appear in *Scream 7* considering the events of the first movie. Will he reprise his role as Stu, or will he portray a new character? While this remains a mystery, Lillard has teased his involvement through an Instagram post, which you can view below.

The original *Scream* cast is reuniting to some extent, with Lillard joining Neve Campbell, who will reprise her role as Sidney Prescott, and Courteney Cox in *Scream 7*. Additionally, Scott Foley, Mason Gooding, and Jasmin Savoy Brown are also part of the cast. This news comes as a relief to fans who feared the project might be canceled after a tumultuous development cycle.

The film faced significant setbacks, including the firing of star Melissa Barrera in November 2023 due to her social media posts about the conflict in Gaza. Just a day later, it was announced that Jenna Ortega would not be returning, leaving both Carpenter sisters, who had been central to the series since *Scream* (2022), unattached to 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, there's hope on the horizon as Kevin Williamson, the writer of the first, second, and fourth *Scream* films, has stepped in to direct.

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

Mark your calendars, as *Scream 7* is slated to hit cinemas on February 27, 2026.