March 31, 2025: Matthew Lillard, known for his iconic role as Stu Macher in the original Scream (1996), has expressed his excitement and fear about returning to the slasher franchise for the upcoming Scream 7. During a panel at Hartford’s 90s Con in Connecticut, Lillard discussed his anticipation and concerns about the potential impact of his return on the legacy of the beloved horror series.
Lillard, who starred as one-half of the notorious killing duo (along with Billy Loomis, played by Skeet Ulrich) in the original film, admitted to feeling “slightly terrified” about reprising his role. “I could really suck, and so that’s my fear,” he shared, acknowledging the challenge of following up on his famous performance. “I hope I don’t ruin it up for everyone,” he continued. His fear stemmed from the concern that his return could negatively affect the film’s longstanding legacy, a franchise that has become a cult classic and shaped the modern slasher genre.
The Scream franchise, which began in 1996, has spawned six successful sequels, with the seventh installment set for release by Paramount on February 27, 2026. Directed by Kevin Williamson, who wrote the script for the original Scream, the upcoming film promises to bring back many familiar faces from the series, including Courteney Cox, Lillard, Scott Foley, and Neve Campbell, the latter of whom starred in the original and all its sequels except for Scream 6, due to a pay dispute.
Lillard’s career skyrocketed after his role as Stu, and while his character died in the original film, his return to the franchise in Scream 7 has stirred significant interest among fans. Lillard has since appeared in movies like She’s All That and The Descendants, as well as starring in the popular Blumhouse/Universal film Five Nights at Freddy’s.
However, the film has faced some behind-the-scenes drama as well. Originally, Scream 7 was set to feature Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega as returning characters. Barrera, who had been slated to reprise her role, was unexpectedly dropped from the project after calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Ortega, who gained massive popularity with her role in Wednesday, also departed due to scheduling conflicts with the second season of the show.
Despite these setbacks, Lillard’s return to the franchise has generated plenty of excitement among fans, as they eagerly await the next chapter in the Scream saga.