Scream 7 actor Mason Gooding teases the nature of Matthew Lillard’s franchise return. Gooding was first introduced to the franchise in the 2022 reboot as Chad Meeks-Martin, who is Tara Carpenter’s love interest in the revival series. Chad is also a survivor of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅly 26th anniversary Legacy Killings in Woodsboro, California. After surviving the events of Scream and Scream VI, Gooding will return to Scream 7. Lillard is also coming back for the seventh installment, although it’s unclear how that will happen.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Gooding hyped up his return in Scream 7, saying that “Lillard’s been a huge part of [his] understanding and love for the medium.” He thinks that Lillard’s return is “far different than [he] imagine[s] anyone will be able to anticipate.” He also praised co-star Scott Foley, calling him “incredible.” Check out the full quote from Gooding below:

Matthew Lillard’s been a huge part of my understanding and love for the medium for a very long time. When you consider his work in the context of [the first] Scream, you realize that was actually him kind of reigning it in and being more grounded given the circumstances. To see where they’re taking that understanding and dynamic in 7 is far different than I imagine anyone will be able to anticipate, and they will absolutely deliver.

I cannot wait for people to see what they’re cooking, so to speak, with Matthew and Scott, because it’s something special.

What This Means For Scream 7

Both Characters Died In Previous Movies

Lillard is best known for portraying one of the two original Ghostface killers in the original Scream movie. He worked alongside Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) as an accomplice in the original Woodsboro Murders, and these events launched the rest of the franchise that would also impact the 2022 installment. Stu seemingly died due to an electrocution, so news of his return becomes complicated. However, there have been speculations that the former antagonist may have survived, and it’s a debate that has continued for two decades. Even Lillard has weighed in that Stu could still be living.

Foley last appeared in Scream 3 and portrayed Roman Bridger, the main antagonist of Scream 3 and the fifth Ghostface. Despite initially evading mortality with a bulletproof vest, Roman dies in Scream 3, as he is both stabbed and sH๏τ in the head. This makes his return to Scream 7 confusing, but Gooding maintains that “something special” is at play with both the Lillard and Foley returns, even if he has yet to reveal what that is.

Our Take On This Scream 7 News

Scream 7 Seems Unlikely To Repeat Their Fake Death Trope

The Scream movies have dealt with fake deaths before, but fully resuscitating two characters from the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ would be a bit much for the franchise. As such, it seems likely that Scream 7 has something unique at play, such as ghosts, or more. The fact that Gooding thinks audiences will not be able to predict or “anticipate” what is to come hints at something far bigger than a convoluted fake death.

Source: EW