Matthew Lillard Calls His Stu Macher Comeback in SCREAM 7 a “Gamble of Legacy” After Campaigning for Years

Matthew Lillard is finally getting his wish. After years of fans debating, theorizing, and flat-out hoping, the actor is officially back as Stu Macher in Scream 7. It’s a return Lillard pushed for, but now that it’s real, the excitement comes with a heavy dose of nerves.

Lillard has never hidden how badly he wanted another shot at the iconic Scream character, and director Kevin Williamson was clearly listening. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Lillard opened up about how long he’d been angling for the opportunity and why the specifics of the role didn’t even matter to him.

"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,"

That passion is part of what makes Stu such a fan-favorite in the first place, but Lillard isn’t pretending this move is risk-free. Scream fans are protective of the franchise, and stepping back into a role that helped define it comes with serious pressure. Lillard is very aware that this could either land perfectly or blow up in his face.

"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.

“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."

That concern feels genuine, especially considering Stu Macher’s fate in the original film. It looked like he died after having a TV smashed on his face. Then there’s Dewey Riley, another returning character who famously didn’t make it out alive. Still, this franchise has already proven it’s willing to bend reality when it serves the story.

Scream introduced Stu as one half of the Ghostface duo, with Skeet Ulrich playing Billy Loomis. Later entries like Scream 5 and Scream 6 found creative ways to bring Billy back through hallucinations, opening the door for similar storytelling tricks. Whether Stu returns in the same way or through something entirely new is being kept tightly under wraps.

Alongside Lillard, Scream 7 is stacking its cast with familiar faces. Neve Campbell returns as Sidney Prescott, Courteney Cox is back as Gale Weathers, Jasmin Savoy Brown reprises Mindy Meeks-Martin, Mason Gooding returns as Chad Meeks-Martin, and David Arquette is once again listed as Dewey Riley, along with Scott Foley.

At this stage, Lillard isn’t trying to sell fans on hype or promises. He knows this comeback is a swing, and he’s owning that completely. After years of campaigning, he’s finally back in the Scream universe, hoping the risk pays off without messing with what fans love about it.

Scream 7 hits theaters on February 27, 2026. Whether Stu’s return becomes a killer win or a controversial twist, one thing’s clear. Matthew Lillard isn’t taking it lightly.