EXCLUSIVE: No need for a spoiler alert here.
Matthew Lillard, renowned for his portrayal of Stuart ‘Stu’ Macher in the original 1996 installment of Scream, is set to reprise his iconic role in Spyglass/Paramount’s forthcoming Scream 7.
How is this revival feasible? The answer remains to be unveiled. Does Stu possess a twin? Lillard’s recent post on Instagram does not suggest such a possibility. The last time audiences encountered the horror-enthused Stu, he was relentlessly pursuing Neve Campbell’s character, Sidney Prescott, nearly three decades ago, engaging in a life-or-death struggle. Ultimately, Sidney triumphed, delivering a fatal blow by dropping a television set on his head. Furthermore, it’s worth recalling that Billy and Stu infamously began to wound one another to fabricate the appearance of innocence—only moments before Sidney decisively overpowered them.
Lillard’s role in Scream catapulted his career, leading him to prominent roles in The Scooby Doo live-action series, She’s All That, The Descendants, and, more recently, a significant role in the Blumhouse/Universal success, Five Nights at Freddy’s.
Joining Lillard in this continuation are legacy cast members Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox, alongside Scott Foley, Mason Gooding, and Jasmin Savoy Brown. Newcomers include Isabel May, Celeste O’Connor, Asa Germann, Mckenna Grace, Sam Rechner, Anna Camp, Joel McHale, and Mark Consuelos.
The franchise’s creator, Kevin Williamson, will helm the project, with writing duties assigned to Guy Busick, who has previously contributed to both Scream (2022) and Scream VI. Producing will be handled by Project X Entertainment’s James Vanderbilt, William Sherak, and Paul Neinstein.
This enduring horror franchise has previously delivered four installments: Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), Scream 3 (2000), and Scream 4 (2011), all directed by the legendary Wes Craven. A revival commenced with the fifth film, Scream, in 2022.
The most recent chapter, Scream VI, debuted globally in March 2023, achieving a franchise record for domestic box office earnings, surpassing $108 million and amassing over $169 million worldwide. Collectively, the Scream franchise has grossed in excess of $900 million globally.
Lillard is represented by Verve, Strand Entertainment, and Heller Law.
Scream 7 will grace cinemas through Paramount on February 27, 2026.
Vocabulary List:
- Renowned /rɪˈnaʊnd/ (adjective): Famous or celebrated; widely known and acclaimed.
- Portrayal /pɔːˈtreɪəl/ (noun): The act of depicting someone or something in a work of art or literature.
- Triumphed /ˈtraɪʌmf/ (verb): Achieved a victory or success; won.
- Instalment /ɪnˈstɔːlmənt/ (noun): A part of a series of works often a part of a story that is published in segments.
- Collectively /kəˈlɛktɪvli/ (adverb): In a way that involves all members of a group.
- Franchise /ˈfræn.tʃaɪz/ (noun): The right to sell a company’s products or services in a particular area; a series of related products or works.
