Exciting news for fans of the iconic horror franchise: Matthew Lillard is set to return for Scream 7. Deadline has confirmed that Lillard, who captivated audiences as the villainous Stuart "Stu" Macher in the original 1996 Scream film, will star in the upcoming installment. This revelation has sparked curiosity among fans about how Lillard's character could reappear, given the events of the first movie. Will he reprise his role as Stu, or will he take on a new character? While this remains a mystery, Lillard himself has teased his involvement through an intriguing Instagram post, which you can view below.

The return of Lillard adds to the excitement of seeing the original Scream cast reunite, as he joins Neve Campbell, who will reprise her iconic role as Sidney Prescott, and Courteney Cox in Scream 7. The film will also feature Scott Foley, Mason Gooding, and Jasmin Savoy Brown, promising a thrilling ensemble cast.

The journey to Scream 7 has been fraught with challenges. The project faced uncertainty after star Melissa Barrera was fired 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), out of the picture.

Further complicating matters, director Christopher Landon exited the project in December 2023, describing his experience as a "dream job that turned into a nightmare." However, hope was restored when Kevin Williamson, the screenwriter behind the first, second, and fourth Scream films, stepped in to direct. Additionally, the directing duo Radio Silence, who helmed Scream and Scream 6, will not return to direct but will serve as executive producers. Guy Busick, co-writer of the previous two films, is back to pen the screenplay.

Scream 7 is slated to hit theaters on February 27, 2026, promising to deliver another thrilling chapter in the beloved horror series.