Matthew Lillard Reacts to His Return in Scream 7

Matthew Lillard expressed his surprise at returning for Scream 7, almost three decades since he first appeared as Stu Matcher in the original film. The actor, now 55, couldn’t believe the news.

In the first Scream movie, Lillard portrayed Stu, who was one of the two killers alongside Billy Loomis, played by Skeet Ulrich.

“I was on a walk, taking a work call for my company, Find Familiar Spirits,” Lillard shared. “Then, during that call, Kevin Williamson phoned, and I had to put him on hold.”

Williamson, 60, is the mastermind behind the Scream series, having written the first film, its 1997 sequel, Scream 2, and Scream 4 in 2011.

Scream 7 will be Williamson’s directorial debut, as he takes the reins following the passing of Wes Craven in 2015.

“When I got the call, I thought, ‘This is really strange,'” Lillard recounted. He had just met Williamson a few weeks prior at a party. “We chatted for a bit, and then I asked, ‘Do you want me to come back?’ I was genuinely shocked and even screamed!”

Initially, Lillard thought a return might be unlikely since Williamson had dismissed rumors about Stu’s survival in the past. “When Kevin asked me, I thought it was a joke. But he insisted he wanted me back,” Lillard added.

Since the announcement, Lillard has kept quiet about the specifics of his character’s comeback. “Honestly, if I had a secret, I usually spill it. But this time, I’ve said nothing about how or why Stu returns,” he admitted.

He’s excited for fans to experience this new chapter. “It feels like a test to see how fans react. The previous team was talented, and I think they did a fantastic job. Kevin’s bringing it back to its roots, so I believe fans will be pleased.”

A trailer for Scream 7 was released in October, featuring Stu’s voice saying, “This is going to be fun!” Lillard mentioned he had no idea that line would appear.

“In this industry, the only control you have is saying yes or no. Once you say yes, you just have to let it play out,” he explained.

Returning cast members include Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott and Courteney Cox as Gail Weathers. David Arquette’s character, Dewey Riley, and Scott Foley’s Roman Bridger will also be back, despite their characters’ deaths in previous films.

Skeet Ulrich confirmed that he was set to appear in Scream 7, but after Melissa Barrera was let go due to her comments on the Israel-Hamas conflict, his involvement changed.

Ulrich expressed his excitement about the new direction the series is headed. “With Kevin Williamson back, I really look forward to seeing what unfolds. I have no insight,” he shared.

He mentioned that he had anticipated being part of a three-movie arc involving Billy Loomis and Barrera’s character. “But after what happened to her, her perspective is now lost.”

Ulrich also revealed that he previously knew the entire plot of Scream 7, which he found intriguing, but now he’s out of the loop. “I’m curious how Matt returned. It’s fun not knowing the details,” he admitted.

Back in June, Williamson reflected on his longstanding connection to the Scream series, saying he felt like a “grandfather” figure in recent films.

Scream 7 is set to hit theaters in February 2026.