Matthew Lillard returns to 'Scream 7' as Stu Macher amid excitement and controversy
Photo: Woods Entertainment
Matthew Lillard is set to reprise his role as Stu Macher in Scream 7, marking his first official return to the franchise in nearly 30 years. The shocking announcement has left fans divided, with some celebrating the nostalgia and others pledging to boycott the film in protest of actress Melissa Barrera’s firing.
Lillard’s return was confirmed by Deadline, though details on how his character will be reintroduced remain a mystery. Given that Stu seemingly died in Scream (1996) after being crushed by a TV, theories range from him surviving all these years to appearing as a hallucination—similar to Billy Loomis’ ghostly appearances in Scream VI.
After the announcement, Lillard shared a video on Instagram, writing out one of Stu's most memorable lines in Scream: "My mom and dad are gonna be soo mad at me!!"
While some fans are thrilled about Lillard’s comeback, others are refusing to support the film due to the franchise’s treatment of Barrera. The actress, who played Sam Carpenter in Scream V and Scream VI, was controversially fired after making social media statements supporting Palestine amid the ongoing genocide.
Soon after, Jenna Ortega who played Tara Carpenter also announced her departure from the franchise. Although Ortega's reason for leaving was confirmed to be a schedule conflict, fans suspect it is related to the issue of Palestine too as the Wednesday actress has been very vocal about her support for a ceasefire.
Reddit reactions reflect the divide. Some fans are excited, calling it “a dream come true” and praising Scream 7 for bringing back legacy characters. Others, however, are adamant about boycotting, stating that they won’t be watching after Barrera's exit. One user wrote, “They can have the best script, the best cast, the best cinematography... I won't watch.”
The backlash extends beyond Barrera’s firing, with some criticizing Scream 7 for what they call "nostalgia baiting." One fan commented that the director was just doing so to appeal to fans.
Others question the logic of Stu’s return, with one remarking that "the franchise is grasping at straws. Eventually Hollywood will be remaking the 1996 original and starting over.”
Despite the controversy, Scream 7 is moving forward with an ensemble cast featuring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Joel McHale, Isabel May, Celeste O’Connor, Mckenna Grace, and Mark Consuelos. The film, directed by Kevin Williamson, is set to release on February 27, 2026.