Matthew Lillard says his Stu Macher Scream 7 return is "a gamble of legacy," but he was "openly campaigning" for a comeback for years

1. Entertainment
2. Movies
3. Horror Movies
4. Scream 7

Matthew Lillard says his Stu Macher Scream 7 return is "a gamble of legacy," but he was "openly campaigning" for a comeback for years News By Molly Edwards published 29 January 2026

Matthew Lillard teases his Scream 7 return

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures) Share Share by:

• Copy link
• Facebook
• X
• Whatsapp
• Pinterest
• Flipboard
• Email

Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google

Matthew Lillard will soon be returning as Stu Macher in Scream 7, which, despite being something he's wanted for a long time, still gives him some nerves.

"It didn't really matter to me in what capacity Kevin [Williamson, director and original writer] wanted me to come back. At the end of the day, I think the reason I was so excited about it was 'cause I had been fighting to come back. I was openly campaigning for years," Lillard told Entertainment Weekly.

But, he's still worried how it might go down with fans of the long-running slasher franchise. "There was so much anxiety, so much fear, so much insecurity about stepping back into something that, frankly – and it's yet to be determined – could go really poorly," he added. "I mean, if people hate the movie, hate me, hate Stu, question why I came back, all of that weighs on me heavily… It's a gamble of legacy. I wouldn't want to hurt the legacy at all. And if I thought it would, I wouldn't be here."

You may like

• New Scream 7 trailer seems to include another voice of a dead franchise character other than Matthew Lillard's Stu Macher
• Scream 7 release date, cast, plot, trailer, and everything else we know so far
• 30 years later, Ghostface targets Sidney Prescott's daughter in new Scream 7 teaser

Scream 7 is bringing back Lillard's Stu, Neve Campbell's Sidney Prescott, and Courteney Cox's Gale Weathers, Jasmin Savoy Brown's Mindy Meeks-Martin, Mason Gooding's Chad Meeks-Martin, and David Arquette's Dewey Riley.

Stu and Dewey, of course, are both dead – so how they return remains to be seen. But, Scream 5 and Scream 6 brought back Skeet Ulrich's Billy Loomis via hallucinations, so we could be looking at something similar here.

Scream 7 arrives in theaters on February 27, 2026. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the most exciting upcoming movies of the year, as well as the best horror movies to watch now.

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Molly EdwardsSocial Links NavigationDeputy Entertainment Editor

I'm the Deputy Entertainment Editor here at GamesRadar+, covering all things film and TV for the site's Total Film and SFX sections. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after graduating with a BA in English.

Show More Comments

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Logout Read more New Scream 7 trailer seems to include another voice of a dead franchise character other than Matthew Lillard's Stu Macher    Scream 7 release date, cast, plot, trailer, and everything else we know so far    30 years later, Ghostface targets Sidney Prescott's daughter in new Scream 7 teaser    Five Nights at Freddy's 2 star Matthew Lillard says he and his Scream "husband" Skeet Ulrich are "supposed to" do at least one more FNAF movie together: "I think where the relationship goes is really interesting"    Five Nights at Freddy's 2 star Matthew Lillard says Mike Flanagan's upcoming Carrie TV show is "brilliant": "The only thing that sucks is you have to wait a year to see it"    New Five Nights at Freddy's 2 trailer shows first look at Scream star Skeet Ulrich, and we think we know which FNAF game character he is playing    Latest in Horror Movies Sinners director Ryan Coogler has filled in the gaps on what happened to Smoke and Stack before they left for Chicago    A Return to Silent Hill director's cut exists and would allow the horror movie "room to breathe"    Mike Flanagan's Exorcist movie adds Man of Steel star Diane Lane    Reboot of '70s cult horror gives Final Destination a run for its money, as its first trailer reels off gory ways to die    James Wan says he wants to take Saw back to its "psychologically scarring" roots, by moving away from gore in Saw 11    Despite landing 16% on Rotten Tomatoes, Return to Silent Hill director says he wants to make more    Latest in News Matthew Lillard says his Stu Macher Scream 7 return is "a gamble of legacy"    Monster Hunter Wilds Steam reviews on the mend following Capcom's latest performance patch    Fallout fans have a grim theory about Thaddeus' future, and he might be turning into one of the games' gnarliest enemies    Hope for a Kingdom Come: Deliverance PS5 port picks up momentum thanks to PlayStation Store leak    Following Ubisoft Paris redundancy proposal, unions threaten to walk out if Yves Guillemot "steps foot in our offices"    Arc Raiders player recycles 109 Venator 4s live on Twitch after an accidental nerf, only for Embark to reverse it    GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1. 1The Doom Arena Board Game is hell on Earth (in the best way) | Preview
2. 2This award-winning board game is a five star must-have
3. 3Code Vein 2 review: "This vampire take on Elden Ring almost works, but the dungeons themselves lack bite"
4. 4Origin Story review: "This superhero adventure is worth suiting up for"
5. 5Trails Beyond the Horizon review: "This JRPG's thrilling real-time and turn-based hybrid combat is finely balanced"

1. 1Return to Silent Hill review: "Neither an impressive adaptation nor coherent enough to act as a standalone film"
2. 228 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: "The wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet"
3. 3Avatar: Fire and Ash review: "Still a technical marvel, with some of the year's best action filmmaking"
4. 4Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: "We have waited two years for a Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5"
5. 5Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"

1. 1Wonder Man review: "A low-key gem that's up there with the MCU's best"
2. 2Starfleet Academy review: "It may feel a little different to what we're used to, but this is Star Trek through and through"
3. 3A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review: "This Game of Thrones spin-off is a heartfelt and fun return to Westeros"
4. 4Stranger Things season 5 finale review: “Shows off both the best and the worst of Hawkins”
5. 5Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2 review: “All set up for a finale that has so much to deliver”