Matthew Lillard’s iconic character Stu Macher met his end at the of the first “Scream” film, but the actor is back and better than ever for the upcoming “Scream 7.” The new installment in the horror franchise follows Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) as she tries to defeat Ghostface once and for all. However, the masked killer has a new target: Sidney’s daughter, Tatum (Isabel May). The tagline for “Scream 7” teases “Burn it all down.”
Matthew Lillard was ‘Shocked’ to Return to ‘Scream‘
In an interview with ComicBookMovie.com, Lillard spoke about returning to the big screen as Stu. Lillard said it was a “shock” when “Scream” writer and creator Kevin Williamson reached out. He recalled earlier comments from Williamson claiming that Stu was dead and that the “franchise doesn’t need Lillard.” However, Williamson eventually called him and offered him the opportunity to return to the world of “Scream.”
Lillard believes fans will enjoy “Scream 7.” He praised the film, saying “I think the script’s great. I think Wes [Craven] would be very proud. It’s sort of in the lines of what the franchise used to be.”
While he commended the newer releases in the horror series as being “great” in their own right, Lillard described Williamson’s upcoming movie as “more traditional in terms of the Scream franchise.” Given that Williamson wrote the screenplays for the first, second and fourth films, it makes sense for him to take a more classic approach to directing “Scream 7.”
Skeet Ulrich will Also Appear in ‘Scream 7‘
Lillard also spoke about the return of his co-star Skeet Ulrich, who plays villain Billy Loomis in the original “Scream.” Billy later returns to haunt his daughter, Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera), in the fifth and sixth films. Lillard joked that he and Ulrich “are kind of like road husbands” due to the time they spend together attending fan conventions. It’s unknown what role Billy will take on in this new movie.
“I think people are going to love our relationship when it gets revealed,” he teased. In the first “Scream,” Stu and Billy are revealed to be the killers disguised as Ghostface. Sidney kills both of the boys at the end of the film.
Lillard also stars in the upcoming “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” alongside Josh Hutcherson (“The Hunger Games”) as well as fellow “Scream 7” stars Ulrich and McKenna Grace (“Regretting You”).
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 releases on December 5. Scream 7 will debut in theaters on February 27, 2026.
