Scream 7 is set to feature some surprising character returns, but there’s one that might already be at a sad disadvantage. Currently scheduled for release in February 2026, the Kevin Williamson-directed movie will continue the slasher franchise in a big way, with all signs so far suggesting it will look back on Scream‘s past.
Not only will Scream 7 finally welcome back Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott following her absence from the previous film, but the new installment is, somehow, bringing back several deceased characters. David Arquette’s Dewey Riley is slated to appear despite his tragic demise in 2022’s Scream, and former Ghostface Roman Bridger (Scott Foley) is also on the list.
Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated return is that of Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard), one of the original Ghostface killers from the 1996 Scream. There’s been much speculation about his potential return over the years, and though it is not yet clear how he is back, Lillard has confirmed the news himself.
There have been theories that he’s secretly alive, but Williamson is keeping all details тιԍнтly under wraps. The promise of somehow seeing Stu again is very exciting, but I can’t help but already mourn the loss of one element that would’ve made his return richer.
If Sam Was Returning For Scream 7, Stu’s Story Would Be Juicier
It All Comes Back To Billy Loomis
Stu’s story is closely linked with that of his Ghostface partner Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich). The two teens embarked on their twisted killing spree after initially dispatching Sidney’s mother, and they had a blood-soaked bond that even resulted in them stabbing each other for the sake of maintaining their covers.
In the years since Scream‘s release, many have fixated on Billy and Stu’s dynamic, with some even finding queer subtext between them.
Like Stu, Billy was killed at the end of Scream, but the reboot movies have found a way to carry on his legacy through his daughter Sam (Melissa Barrera). Ulrich returned to play the character for the fifth and sixth films, appearing as a figment of Sam’s imagination and a manifestation of her darker impulses.
It is because of this that many have theorized that Sam could become a Ghostface herself one day. With her father’s partner now returning in some form in Scream 7, this theory either could’ve come to fruition, or it would’ve given Sam a unique connection to Stu that would’ve been fascinating to see play out.
Unfortunately, Sam won’t be a part of Scream 7 due to Spyglᴀss firing Barrera back in 2023. The exact story of the upcoming sequel hasn’t been revealed, but the casting of Sidney’s family indicates it will focus on them rather than a new group of characters. Since Sidney was the one to stop Stu and Billy back in 1996, the movie is already ripe for dramatic tension.
Isabel May has reportedly been cast as Sidney’s daughter, while Joel McHale will play her husband Mark.
However, Sam’s involvement would’ve opened the door for a deeper story with Stu. If the theories about him being alive are true, he could’ve attempted to seek her out as a way of clinging to Billy’s memory, or to finish what they had started decades before. Stu might’ve hoped Sam could be his new partner in crime.
In the years since Scream‘s release, many have fixated on Billy and Stu’s dynamic, with some even finding queer subtext between them. I have no doubt Scream 7 will reference Billy in some way, particularly when it comes to his partner. Still, Stu forging a connection with Sam would’ve added a warped layer to both of their stories and made the sequel even more exciting.
