Exciting news for fans of the iconic horror franchise: Matthew Lillard is set to return for Scream 7. According to Deadline, Lillard, who captivated audiences as the notorious antagonist Stuart "Stu" Macher in the original 1996 Scream film, will star in the upcoming installment. This revelation has sparked curiosity among fans, especially considering Stu's fate in the first movie. Will Lillard reprise his role as Stu, or will he portray a new character? The mystery deepens as Lillard himself teased his involvement on Instagram, as seen below.

The return of Lillard marks a partial reunion of the original Scream cast, as he joins Neve Campbell, who will reprise her role as Sidney Prescott, and Courteney Cox in Scream 7. The film will also feature Scott Foley, Mason Gooding, and Jasmin Savoy Brown, adding to the excitement surrounding this much-anticipated sequel.

The journey to Scream 7 has been fraught with challenges. The project faced uncertainty after a tumultuous development cycle, highlighted by the firing of star Melissa Barrera in November 2023 following her social media posts about the conflict in Gaza. Just a day later, it was announced that Jenna Ortega would not be returning, leaving the Carpenter sisters, central to the series since Scream (2022), no longer attached to the project.

Further complicating matters, director Christopher Landon exited Scream 7 in December 2023, describing his experience as a "dream job that turned into a nightmare." However, hope was restored when Kevin Williamson, the writer behind the first Scream, Scream 2, and Scream 4, stepped in to direct. Additionally, the directing duo Radio Silence, who helmed Scream and Scream 6, announced in August 2023 that they would not return to direct Scream 7 but would remain as executive producers. Guy Busick, co-writer of the previous two films, is set to pen the screenplay for this latest chapter.

Scream 7 is slated to hit cinemas on February 27, 2026, promising a thrilling continuation of the beloved franchise.