The Scream franchise has always played with audience expectations, but Scream 7 might be taking that idea to an entirely new level.
With the shocking return of Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher and Scott Foley as Scream 3‘s Roman Bridger, per Deadline, the upcoming film seems poised to toy with franchise lore in ways we haven’t seen before. While some fans have clamored for Stu’s survival theory to be canonized, others remain skeptical about the idea of retconning two major villain deaths.
Stu, famously electrocuted by a television in Scream (1996), has long been the subject of fan theories suggesting he survived his injuries. Wes Craven himself once teased that Scream 3 originally included Stu operating as a mastermind from prison before the plot was rewritten. Now, decades later, Scream 7 has opened the door for his return—but in what capacity?
Roman’s situation is even trickier. The sole Ghostface of Scream 3, he was killed definitively—shot in the head, a fate that Scream has never left ambiguous. His return raises even bigger questions about how Scream 7 will incorporate past events.
While details remain scarce, the safest bet is that both characters will return in flashbacks. Scream has already utilized de-aging technology for Skeet Ulrich’s appearances in the last two films, Scream (2022) and Scream VI, meaning we could see new sequences that fill in narrative gaps from earlier installments.
Related: Every Ghostface Killer In the ‘Scream’ Movies Ranked
One potential route? Revisiting Roman’s role in orchestrating Billy Loomis’ actions in the first film. Since Scream 3 revealed that Roman had manipulated Billy into becoming Ghostface, there’s room for further expansion. Maybe Stu was more involved than previously believed, or perhaps Roman’s influence extended beyond what was originally shown.
Alternatively, though very unlikely, the film could take a more supernatural or psychological approach. If not literal flashbacks, the return of these characters could come in the form of hallucinations, visions, or even an unreliable narrator scenario.
Regardless of how Scream 7 chooses to execute this, it’s a high-risk move. Bringing back long-dead killers has the potential to feel like a desperate attempt at fan service rather than a logical progression of the story. But if done right, it could add depth to the overarching narrative and recontextualize past events in surprising ways.
At the very least, it’s clear that Scream 7 is going all in on nostalgia while trying to carve a new path forward. With Neve Campbell back, Kevin Williamson at the helm, and now two former Ghostfaces in play, this might just be the most unpredictable entry in the series yet.
Does bringing back legacy killers risk undermining past films, or is it a brilliant way to expand the Scream mythos? Horror fans will have their answer when Scream 7 slashes into theaters on February 27, 2026.
Scream 7 Cast and Release Date
Matthew Lillard and Scott Foley join Neve Campbell (Sidney Prescott), Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers), Mason Gooding (Chad Meeks), and Jasmin Savoy Brown (Mindy Meeks), alongside newcomers Isabel May, Celeste O’Connor, Asa Germann, Mckenna Grace, Sam Rechner, Anna Camp, Joel McHale, and Mark Consuelos.
Scream 7 hits theaters on February 27, 2026.
Do you think Scream 7 will feature flashbacks to never-before-seen events set before and during the original film? Or do you think it will bring Stu and Roman back from the dead in a surprise twist? Let us know in the comments below!
