In the ever-evolving world of entertainment, few horror film franchises have managed to maintain their chilling legacy akin to that of Scream. Renowned for its signature blend of suspense, meta-commentary, and the iconic Ghostface, it won’t be wrong to state that it has now become a benchmark in slasher cinema.
However, in recent times, the franchise has evolved and adapted to keep up with the rest of its contemporaries, introducing elements that would not have been found in the original film. And Matthew Lillard, who played the unforgettable Stu Macher has a lot to say about it all.
Matthew Lillard Gives His Opinion on New Scream Films
It has been nearly three decades since the original Scream film was released and since then fans of the murder mystery and slasher franchise have been introduced to several Ghostface time again. Yet, Matthew Lillard and his Stu Macher remain as iconic as ever.
With a new Scream film in the making, the actor recently sat down with GamesRadar+ to discuss the recent films in the franchise. While he believes the franchise is in a good place, he had a sort of a bone to pick with the last film for being ‘too violent.’
I thought the movie got too violent. I think 6 was, like… I don’t think Ghostface ever needs a shotgun. I think that the movies are – everything is trying to repeat what we did in the first movie in a lot of ways. Like, a maniacal monologue at the end. It’s really hard to do.
Lillard’s comment comes from an honest place of reflection, yet not all die-hard fans of the franchise might agree with him. While there was some backlash when the last film’s trailer revealed Ghostface carrying a shotgun, fans came quickly on board after witnessing the said scene was one of the highlights of Scream 6, just as the directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett had intended to do (as per SFX, via GamesRadar+).
Matthew Lillard is Looking Forward to Scream VII
It was recently revealed that another Scream film is in the making starring Neve Campbell and helmed by the writer of the original film, Kevin Williamson. Having earlier departed the film due to salary disputes, it is an exciting time for fans of the franchise to have Campbell back as well as to have Williamson direct the film.
So while fans are excitedly looking forward to the seventh installment of the film, even franchise original star Matthew Lillard is excited about the upcoming flick. In his interview with GamesRadar+, he stated,
I think it’s in a good place. I think that [the movie being] back in the hands of Kevin Williams is great… I hope that Kevin takes it in a brand new, brave, and exciting direction so that we can sort of find different colors and different joys.
Having previously revealed to Drew Barrymore that Stu is alive and might come back (via Instagram), Lillard’s hope for the new film certainly adds a layer of intrigue for the long-time fans of the slasher film series. As the legacy of Ghostface continues, we are excited to witness what fresh horrors await in this latest upcoming chapter.
Scream VII will be in theaters on February 27, 2026.
