Highlights
- Matthew Lillard is unsure about returning for Scream 7 due to the uncertain state of the franchise.
- The debate over whether Stu Macher is alive or dead in the Scream universe continues after 27 years.
- Both fans and Matthew Lillard have hinted at Stu Macher's possible survival, but the ultimate decision lies with the writers of Scream 7.
Scream 7 has been in the news a lot recently for all the wrong reasons, with the exits of Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega leaving the Scream franchise with an uncertain future. Matthewe Lillard who played one of the Ghostface killers in the first movie, Stu Macher, has weighed in with his opinion on the current state of the franchise, and the possibility of his return in Scream 7.
The debate over whether Stu is alive or dead is still raging on after 27 years. Lillard has made it very clear in the past that he would be on board to play Stu Macher again, if they could come up with a good enough story and reasoning for his return. But his recent comments on the subject have put his possible return in serious doubt. Lillard has been busy recently with a return to the horror genre in the box office smash hit, Five Nights At Freddy's, meaning his star is very much on the rise again in the slasher sub-genre.
What did Matthew Lillard say about possibly returning for Scream 7?
Stu Macher is one of the best characters to feature in the Scream franchise, and without question, one of the reasons it became the success it still is today. Matthew Lillard played the disturbed teenager who went on a killing spree with his friend, Billy Loomis in 1996's Scream, before Sidney Prescoot dropped a television on his head, putting an end to the carnage.
Fans of the slasher franchise have speculated for many years now that the best Ghostface, Stu Macher somehow survived his injuries, and is very much alive in the Scream universe. Lillard hasn't deterred these theories, and has even encouraged them, as he clearly wouldn't be against returning to the role that arguably launched his career.
However, Lillard recently opened up on the current state of the upcoming Scream 7, and the likelihood of him returning in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
I don’t think so. I don’t think so. I mean, look, with what they're going through right now, I have no idea where that goes. If there’s a world where it makes sense, then sure. I mean, they keep mentioning it, they keep tip-toeing around the outside.
It appears that Lillard isn't confident of a return in Scream 7, and alludes to the problems with the upcoming sequel after the exits of Melissa Berrera and Jenna Ortega. Despite being on board to return, his career has taken a significant boost with his role as the killer, William Afton in Five Nights At Freddy's.A sequel has already been announced after the massive success of the first movie, so it's more likely that the next killer Lillard portrays in a slasher movie won't be Stu Macher. However, he acknowledged in the recent interview that he would like Stu Macher's fate to be decided either way.
I hope they put it to bed one way or the other. I can’t walk down the street without somebody asking me if I’m going to be in Episode 35 or whatever.
Is Stu Macher Alive or Dead?
The 'Stu is alive' major fan theory first came to prominence thanks to an early outline for Scream 3 by Kevin Williamson, who wrote the screenplays for Scream and Scream 2. Williamson had initially planned to bring back Stu Macher as the main killer in the second sequel, with him orchestrating a new spree of killings from his prison cell, via a cult of teenage Ghostface followers in high school. However, the Columbine Massacre happened, and these plans were shelved in favor of a lighter tone, with Scream 3 ending up being more comedy-driven. Kevin Williamson also ended up not returning to write the screenplay, instead handing over the reins to franchise newcomer, Ehren Kruger.
Williamson has since weighed in on the Stu Macher is still alive debate, confirming that he is very much dead. Despite being an executive producer on the last two movies, Williamson hasn't written a movie in the franchise since the underrated Scream 4. So any decision on Stu's ultimate fate lies with the writers of Scream 7, meaning the man who created the Scream universe ultimately doesn't have the final say on the popular killer's fate.
Fans kept the theories alive, and Matthew Lillard also insisted Stu Macher survived being electrocuted by a television, and this led to Scream 2022 and Scream 6 teasing his possible survival, clearly acknowledging the theories surrounding the much loved character. Self-confessed movie geeks, Kirby Reed and Mindy Meeks Martin had a conversation in Scream 6 during their visit to the killer's shrine. They see lots of relics from previous killing sprees, and Kirby points out 'The TV that killed Stu Macher' with Mindy replying 'If you believe he is dead.' This could be a little nod to the fans, or it could be part of a larger set up for Stu's return in Scream 7.
So, did Stu Macher really die at 261 Turner Lane all those years ago? Nobody truly knows the answer to that question. Either way, Scream 7 needs to address Stu's fate instead of teasing it any longer.
Scream
The Scream movie and TV franchise began with the release of the first film in 1996. Directed by horror master Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, the deconstruction of slasher movies was an instant cultural, critical, and financial hit. Neve Campbell, who plays ongoing final girl Sidney Prescott, has become a horror icon in her own right, along with Ghostface, the only horror villain whose identity is always changing. Nearly three decades later, the Scream franchise shows no signs of slowing down.
