The Ghostface mask is back on, and so is a face long presumed crushed under a television set. Matthew Lillard, who brought the role of Stu Macher to life in the original Scream, is officially returning to the franchise for Scream 7. The news, first reported by Deadline, has horror fans buzzing with one big question: Could Stu Macher still be alive, or is something far more sinister—and possibly supernatural—at play?
All ‘Scream’ fans will remember Stu Macher was unmasked as one of the original Ghostface killers alongside Billy Loomis in Wes Craven’s Scream. After a blood-soaked rampage, Stu met what appeared to be a definitive end—stabbed, bleeding, and ultimately crushed by a TV, thanks to final girl Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell).
But as we all know in horror, death is rarely the end-leaving us all to wonder if Sydney is in for one more big surprise.
Lillard has long teased fans with the possibility that Stu may have survived. And now, with his return confirmed, all bets are off. In a cryptic Instagram post following the announcement, Lillard wrote the iconic line, “My mom and dad are going to be so mad at me,” in a nod to one of Stu’s most memorable moments from the original film. The playful yet ominous post has sparked even more speculation about how Scream 7 could bring the character back into the fold. Is Stu really alive? Or could the franchise be taking an entirely different approach?
The timing of Lillard’s return is particularly interesting, coming just after the announcement that Scott Foley will also be reprising his role as Roman Bridger, from Scream 3. Foley’s Roman was also presumed dead, so Scream 7 seems to be setting the stage for a potential resurrection of past killers—or at least, their grim legacies.
Of course, the ‘Scream’ series has always thrived on subverting expectations and playing with the slasher genre’s rules. The return of both Lillard and Foley suggests that Scream 7 could be leaning heavily into its legacy characters, especially with the return of Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox as Sidney and Gale. And with Kevin Williamson—the man who penned the original 1996 classic—now taking over as director, it seems ‘Scream’ is headed back to its horror roots.
But let’s take a moment to appreciate the gravity of Stu’s potential return. Stu Macher wasn’t just an ordinary Ghostface. His gleeful, bloodthirsty charm made him an unforgettable villain and his unpredictable energy and childlike fascination with violence cemented him as one of the most memorable killers in horror history. And now, with Lillard back in the fold, the game may be far from over.
As for how Stu could return, that remains to be seen. Could it be flashbacks? A dream sequence? A ghostly apparition, like Billy Loomis? Given the franchise’s history of bending the rules, nothing is off the table.
Whether Lillard’s Stu is back in the flesh or in spirit, one thing is clear: his return has reinvigorated a franchise that has already proven it can still slice through audience expectations nearly 30 years after its inception. With Scream 7 set to hit theaters on February 27, 2026, fans have plenty of time to speculate about how Stu Macher will fit into this next chapter. Is he back to finish what he started? Or is he playing a whole new game?
Stay tuned for more updates as the mystery of Scream 7 continues to unfold – Because if Stu is back, one thing’s for sure: it’s gonna be a scream, baby!
