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Matthew Lillard’s return to the Scream franchise almost happened 25 years ago

Lillard, who plays the infamous Stu Macher, is headed back to the Ghostface Gang in Scream VII. As it turns out, though, he was nearly the villain in the franchise's 2000 entry

News by Grant DeArmitt, Staff Writer

Published on Tue May 06 2025

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For some Scream fans, Matthew Lillard's murderous Stu Macher has been alive since the end of the first film. (For what it's worth, Lillard hasn't been shy about agreeing with that idea publicly.) However, the horror icon's return wasn't officially confirmed until January of this year, when it was announced that the actor would return for 2026's Scream VII. That said, this wasn't the first time that the franchise producers (Scream Team?) thought about bringing Macher back... because that would be in the original draft of 2000's Scream 3.

The revelation comes from Lillard himself, in an interview he did with the Pop My Culture podcast all the way back in 2009. Speaking of the early concepts for Scream 3, the Five Nights at Freddy's actor said, "The idea was to have me [...] orchestrating mayhem from prison, like with people attacking high schools."

So what changed? Lillard points to a real-life tragedy.

"That was before Columbine," he says, referencing the 1999 mass shooting at Columbine High School. "It broke out six weeks before production, and they sacked the whole story, changed the whole thing."

Of course, Scream fans know that Macher (and by extension, Lillard) did not return in 2000's Scream 3. That film, which ups the franchise's meta nature by taking place on a film set, actually sees another Sydney Prescott obsessive behind the infamous Ghostface mask, but since I think it's a worthwhile movie to experience, I'm not going to let you know who that is here. I will say, though, that Scream 3 does introduce one of the franchise's best B-list cast members in Jennifer Jolie, played by The White Lotus season 3's Parker Posey.

No, she's not Stu Macher, but when it comes to Scream side characters, she's easily in the top five. Come to think of it, when is she returning to Scream? Parker Posey isn't busy with The White Lotus anymore - it's the perfect time to reach out, Scream producers.

Scream VII comes to theaters February 27, 2026.

In the immortal words of Danny Elfman, "Life's no fun without a good scare." We couldn't agree more, which is why we've cobbled together a couple pieces to send a chill up your spine. Join Popverse as we explore:

And much gore. Er, more. Much more.

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Grant DeArmitt: Grant DeArmitt (he/him) likes horror, comics, and the unholy union of the two. As Popverse's Staff Writer, he criss-crosses the pop culture landscape bringing you the news and opinions about the big things (and the next big things). In the past, and despite their better judgment, he has written for Nightmare on Film Street and Newsarama. He lives in Brooklyn with his partner, Kingsley, and corgi, Legs.