Is Matthew Lillard Returning for ‘Scream 7’? Actor Confirms His Comeback to the Horror Franchise

Matthew Lillard’s character, Stu Macher, in 1996’s Scream has become an icon since the film revitalized the horror genre way back when. Stu was a villain, yes, but he was a lovable villain that had some hilarious one-liners. An Instagram post from Matthew has everyone wondering if he’s somehow returning to his roots in the upcoming Scream 7.

Is Matthew Lillard Returning for ‘Scream 7’?

On January 30, 2025, Deadline reported that Scream 2 star Scott Foley was returning to the franchise. That same day, Matthew posted a video on Instagram hinting that he was joining the cast for Scream 7, as well.

The Scooby-Doo star shared a video of what appeared to be his hand writing out, “My mom and dad are gonna be so mad at me!!” The line was one of Matthew’s most memorable in Scream, and Deadline later confirmed the news of his return.

Did Matthew Lillard Die in ‘Scream’?

One point that has fans scratching their heads about Matthew’s presumed return to the world of Ghostface, is how Stu survived the end of Scream. In Wes Craven’s flick, after Stu and Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) were unmasked as the killers, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) killed them both. She took out Stu by shoving a television on his head and it appeared he had been electrocuted. Plus, moments before Stu seemingly met his end, he and Billy had exchanged multiple jabs with a knife that left each of them bleeding profusely. All in all, it doesn’t seem likely that Stu survived all of that.

However, just because a character died, it doesn’t mean they can’t return in some other shape or form. As seen previously in Scream 5, Skeet’s character Billy popped back up. Even though he was definitely dead at the end of the original Scream with a bullet between his brows, Billy made his presence known in Scream 5 when his previously unknown daughter, Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) saw him through hallucinations.

Who Else Is Returning in ‘Scream 7’?

Along with Scott and Matthew, several other cast members from previous films in the franchise have been slated to appear. Neve has appeared in all of the Scream movies except for Scream 6 due to pay disputes. However, she’ll be returning to the role of Sidney in Scream 7.

“Sidney Prescott is coming back!!!!” Neve announced via Instagram in March 2024. “It’s always been such a blast and an honor to get to play Sidney in the Scream movies. My appreciation for these films and for what they have meant to me, has never waned. I’m very happy and proud to say I’ve been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

Courteney Cox, Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding will also be reprising their respective roles and franchise creator Kevin Williamson will be directing this time around.

“It’s been nearly 30 years since my very first script, Scream, was directed by the legendary Wes Craven,” Kevin wrote alongside a photo of a copy of the Scream 7 script via Instagram in March 2024. “ I never would have predicted what it would become. Or that I would be directing the seventh installment of the franchise. I am overcome with gratitude and excitement, and I can’t wait to take this journey with Neve and the entire Scream family as we bring back Sidney Prescott in the next chapter of the Scream franchise. Thank you to all the Scream fans. You are the gift that keeps giving.”

The seventh film in the franchise will also include some new faces, including, Isabel May, Celeste O’Connor, Asa Germann, Mckenna Grace, Sam Rechner, Anna Camp, Joel McHale and Mark Consuelos.