The Scream 7 hype train keeps gaining momentum, and this weekend, two franchise veterans stepped into the spotlight to talk about their surprising returns. At MegaCon Orlando on February 7, Matthew Lillard made talked his long-rumored comeback, while Scott Foley addressed his own unexpected return just days later. With the cast coming together—both on and off-screen—fans are left wondering: is Ghostface assembling for something bigger than ever before?

Matthew Lillard Talks His Return at MegaCon

For years, Scream fans have kept the “Stu Lives” theory alive, fueled by speculation, interviews, and even Easter eggs planted in recent films. Now, Matthew Lillard has finally spoken on it himself.

During MegaCon Orlando, Lillard appeared on stage with Skeet Ulrich (Billy Loomis) and officially confirmed he is part of Scream 7.

“I’ve been asked literally 1,000 times a day since the first movie ended if I’m coming back,” Lillard told the crowd. “And I’m happy to report I am.”

Before the fan frenzy could spiral too far, he jokingly added:

“I come back as a fairy godmother. It’s gonna slay.”

Ulrich, who has already returned to the series as a spectral presence for his on-screen daughter, Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera), expressed excitement for his longtime friend.

“Matt called me and told me when word came down, and I was so ecstatic for him because anybody who’s been to one of these or knows him or has followed him knows how much he has wanted that.”

What’s unclear is how Lillard’s Stu Macher fits into the new film. Fan theories have ranged from AI-manipulated footage to dream sequences, or even the idea that Stu survived his infamous TV-smashing demise. With Kevin Williamson directing, anything is possible.

Scott Foley Talks Roman Bridger’s Return (Sort Of)

Meanwhile, over at Live with Kelly and Mark on February 10, Scott Foley addressed his surprising return to the franchise.

Foley, who played Roman Bridger—the mastermind behind Scream 3 and the only solo Ghostface killer in franchise history—had a cryptic but playful exchange with co-host Mark Consuelos, who is also in Scream 7 as Robbie Rivers, a morning show anchor in Pine Grove (the fictional town where the new film takes place).

Consuelos: “News lately—you played Roman in Scream 3.”
Foley: “I did.”
Consuelos: “And you died.”
Foley: “I did.”
Consuelos: “But now you’re returning in Scream 7.”
Foley: “Look, man, it’s Scream.”

Foley didn’t confirm whether Roman Bridger is truly back or if he’s appearing in another capacity—such as a flashback, hallucination, or even archival footage. He did, however, reveal that his return came directly from Kevin Williamson:

“I had just had a conversation with Kevin Williamson, who’s directing and wrote the first few Screams—he’s directing this one. And he wanted me to come back and play a small part. And I was so excited to sort of revisit this character, even though he died in the first one.”

This raises even more questions—just how self-referential will this installment be? With both Foley and Lillard returning, Scream 7 is shaping up to be one of the most meta-heavy entries in the series.

The Scream 7 Cast Shows Up for Mason Gooding’s Heart Eyes

While the internet was busy dissecting every cryptic casting detail, the Scream 7 family showed up in full force to support co-star Mason Gooding at the premiere of his new slasher, Heart Eyes.

Among those in attendance were: Neve Campbell, Kevin Williamson, McKenna Grace, Sam Rechner, Anna Camp, Victor Turpin, Asa Germann, and Rory Kinnear.

Gooding, who has been dropping teasers about Scream 7 being the most brutal installment yet, recently described the practical effects on set as stomach-churning and teased that Ghostface is more violent than ever before.

What’s Next? 

With each new Scream 7 update, the film feels like it’s building toward something massive. The return of Lillard, Foley, Campbell, and more has sparked speculation that this could be the most interconnected sequel yet. With Scream 7 slashing its way to theaters on February 27, 2026, one thing is certain—Kevin Williamson has something bold, bloody, and brutal up his sleeve.

Stay tuned for more updates as we piece together the latest Ghostface puzzle.