Scream 7 Stu Return Theories That Will Blow Your Mind!

The “Scream” horror film series began in 1996, offering a unique perspective within the genre and an intriguing opening scene that sparked conversations like, “Which horror film is your favorite?” After almost three decades, the franchise has grown to encompass five follow-ups, a TV show adaptation, and plans for a seventh movie that promises to be a continuation of the original storyline.

The primary focus of this franchise has been on the character of Sidney Prescott, played by Neve Campbell, and the masked individuals attempting to murder her, one of whom was Stu Macher (portrayed by Matthew Lillard). In the initial film, it appears that Stu perishes after Sidney falls a TV onto his head. However, speculations among fans have lingered since the original trilogy ended, suggesting that Stu could have somehow survived. Now that Lillard is confirmed to be in Scream 7, there’s much excitement and curiosity about how the movie will resurrect this character.

8. Stu Is Alive And Leading Kills From Prison

This Theory Recycles A Scrapped Scream 3 Plot

An uninteresting fan speculation links to an early concept for Scream 3. In the original plans for Scream 3, it was proposed that Stu Macher, despite his severe injuries from Billy’s stabbings and Sidney’s TV-throwing incident, had somehow survived and was serving time in prison. Even behind bars, Stu would have maintained a significant impact.

The notion was that, following his imprisonment, Stu might have remained informed about the ongoing attempts on Sidney’s life and could potentially offer guidance to aspiring murderers who admired the scheme he and Billy had devised. While this plot idea could have been intriguing in an earlier film, or might work for a different antagonist in the Scream franchise in the future, it doesn’t quite capture the same level of excitement or fascination as other potential storylines.

The primary reason is that the concept used in Scream, penned by Kevin Williamson, bears a strong resemblance to one he employed in his TV show The Following. In this series, a murderer transformed into a cult leader, orchestrating his crimes from prison. However, it seems incongruous and less fitting for the universe of Scream.

7. Stu Is A Hallucination

Stu Could Be Someone Else’s Psychological Torture

In an intriguing twist similar to films like the Scream series, a character who has passed away could reappear symbolically as a reflection of a main character’s inner turmoil. This was evident with Sam, whose struggle with accepting Billy Loomis as her father was mirrored by his presence. Unfortunately, with Melissa Barrera leaving the franchise, we won’t witness her character being tormented metaphorically by Billy or dealing with moving on from him.

There’s a chance that Stu could take on this role instead of Matthew Lillard, but since Sam and Billy have already filled those shoes, the idea might not feel innovative for the series. The series often revisits themes like family and revenge, but it doesn’t repeat the exact same narratives; instead, it finds creative ways to revamp them.

An intriguing possibility is that Stuart appears in Sidney’s dreams, given that other cast members who played deceased characters are returning for the movie. This could be a chilling reflection of Sidney’s past constantly haunting her.

6. Stu Is Alive And Hidden By His Family

His Family Has Been Mentioned But Not Seen

From what’s been shown in the franchise so far, here are some details about Stu Macher’s family: his parents were affluent by Woodsboro standards, he was concerned about letting them down when they learned about his murders, he has a sister, and tragically, his nephew was another victim of Ghostface. Beyond these facts, the series doesn’t offer much insight into whether they would have tried to shield Stu from the repercussions of his actions or if they might have attempted to aid him instead.

Given that Scream 5, 6, and 7 are legacy sequels focusing on a new generation linked to the original characters, it’s not unthinkable that we might see the Macher family reappear, or learn that they have been keeping Stu concealed from law enforcement. This could provide him with an opportunity for recovery, both physically and mentally, away from the violent events of his high school years.

This intriguing hypothesis has garnered much discussion on Reddit, but it’s uncertain where the narrative might go. Could it be that Stu, given his injuries, wouldn’t be capable of donning the Ghostface costume? Or perhaps he’s secretly following Sidney’s life and delving into the lore? There are many potential scenarios to consider.

Fan theories suggest a possible family link between Anna Camp’s and McKenna Grace’s characters and Stuart’s, as it seems quite plausible.

5. Stu Is Alive And Becomes An Ally For Sidney

Could Scream 7 Take A Hannibal Lecter Approach?

A common theme in modern crime series depicts a criminal transforming partially during imprisonment, which could be applicable to Stu in future Scream movies. If Stu is still alive and serving time, it might be intriguing to explore his role as an advisor for the protagonists, leveraging his Ghostface experience to aid them.

In a different time, a 1996 Ghostface and a contemporary one could have distinct worries and aspirations. Consequently, Stu understanding the psyche of a new murderer 30 years later might be plausible or it could lead to Stu contemplating whether he himself desires to don the mask.

In terms of Matthew Lillard’s performance, it offers an opportunity for some dramatic flair. However, this concept may not translate as effectively in a slasher film as it would in a crime drama on television.

Despite speculation about Stu’s survival in various theories, there’s a catch: Kevin Williamson has confirmed in interviews that Stu is deceased. Given the unpredictable nature of this film series, particularly its penchant for shocking plot twists in the third act, it appears unlikely that Williamson would retract his statement about Stu’s death, even within the context of the franchise.

4. Matthew Lillard Is Not Playing Stu

Think Wes Craven’s New Nightmare

Since the plot of the Scream movies is secretly filmed and sometimes features fake scenes to maintain suspense about who’s under the Ghostface mask, it’s quite plausible that we are jumping to conclusions by assuming Matthew Lillard will reprise his role as Stu in Scream 7. In fact, he could be acting as Matthew Lillard portraying Stu Macher, adding an extra layer of self-referentiality to the series.

In the horror series “Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Chucky”, the line between reality and fiction blurred when the actors who portrayed characters were pursued by their on-screen villains in real life. For instance, in “New Nightmare”, Wes Craven’s creation Freddy Krueger haunted the cast members off-screen, while Jennifer Tilly experienced this dual role more recently in the “Chucky” franchise, playing both herself and her character Tiffany.

One Reddit user proposes a humorous twist for the “Scream” franchise: “It would be amusing if Matthew Lillard were the one who met an early demise in the opening scene…” This idea could serve as a tribute to Wes Craven and keep viewers guessing, following all the anticipation surrounding potential plot developments.

3. Stu Returns Only Briefly

The Opening Kill Could Still Be Stu

The “Scream” film series is recognized for its distinctive opening scenes that often subvert typical horror movie expectations. The initial film broke new ground by featuring a well-known actress, Drew Barrymore, who met an untimely end mere minutes into the film. Subsequent installments continued to push boundaries, such as offing characters during a movie theater screening and introducing a fictional “Stab” series within the movie itself. In essence, each movie turns audience expectations upside down, even in the opening sequence.

One Reddit user speculates that “Scream 7” might recapture its magic by reintroducing Matthew Lillard and making his character, Stu Macher, the initial victim in the new horror outing.

In the opening scene of Scream 7, it is disclosed that Stu from the initial Scream film actually survived. He’s adopted a fresh identity and appears to have significantly improved his life. However, given this is a Scream movie, things seem too good to be true. A call from an enigmatic figure who seems more like a commanding voice compels him to engage in a game. As events unfold, Stu meets his demise for the second time. The film then transitions to the title card of Scream 7. This daring move could stir up controversy among fans, which is precisely why it should be implemented. Fans might feel misled, and that’s precisely the intention. It remains unclear how this will connect to the larger narrative in Scream 7, but it should in some way.

As a film enthusiast, I acknowledge that casting Damian Lillard in a minimal role might initially seem like a bait-and-switch tactic, leaving the audience feeling misled about his character’s significance. However, this could potentially add an intriguing layer to the movie by serving as a meta wink to the audience, subtly confirming that Stu is indeed gone for good – a tribute to Williamson’s assertion that Stu has met his end.

2. Stu Will Be Seen In A Flashback To The Inciting Incident

Scream 7 Could Take Us Back To Maureen

One intriguing and logically sound fan theory for Damian Lillard’s role in “Scream 7” leads us right back to the start. The duo of Billy and Stu commits murder when they kill Sidney’s mother, and it is suggested that Billy has inside information about Sidney’s mother due to his relationship with Sidney’s half-brother Roman, as revealed in the third film. One Reddit user proposes an interesting twist: “Perhaps we might witness the original plotting or execution of Maureen’s murder. This theory suggests that they may not have been the only three people involved,” implying a possible expansion of the killer’s circle.

Billy, Stu and Roman flashback before Scream 1996 where they plan Maureen’s murder…
It’s likely that we’ll witness the flashback from the viewpoint of an unseen character, who was present in the room with them. This unseen character could potentially be the murderer featured in Scream 7.

It’s not unfeasible to employ a flashback sequence featuring an actor who has long since left high school. Modern visual effects technology can make this a reality, particularly if there is existing footage of the actor during that period. For instance, with Lillard and other original Scream actors, they have such footage available, which simplifies the task for the visual effects team to depict a 2025 Lillard who seems like the Lillard from 1996.

This raises some intriguing questions, indeed. Besides Maureen Prescott, who else might have harbored a desire for her death? Stu formed an alliance with Billy and seemed to enjoy his malevolent side. Both Billy and Roman held grudges against Maureen. In the upcoming flashback, who will be unveiled as being involved in Maureen’s death, potentially holding a grievance that could motivate them to target Sidney 30 years later? It’s exciting to speculate.

1. A.I. Will Be Used To Make It Appear Stu Is Alive

A.I. Is Becoming A Popular Modern Horror Fixture

It’s widely speculated that Matthew Lillard’s comeback to the Scream series could involve the use of artificial intelligence in some way. The Scream franchise has a knack for staying relevant within the horror genre, reflecting its state at the time of each film’s release. For instance, the first movie provided insight into the slasher subgenre up until that point, while subsequent films like Scream 5 and 6 explored how the genre evolves, particularly as legacy sequels or a blend of reboot and sequel (often referred to as “requels” by the characters).

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly appearing in contemporary horror films, with movies like M3GAN serving as evidence, featuring a self-learning, terrifyingly lethal doll. Beyond objects, AI is also employed in software development and digital arts. The question of whether AI should be utilized in filmmaking at all has sparked debate. Given this trend, it’s logical that Scream 7 would consider incorporating this theme.

It’s possible that future installments of the Scream series, such as Scream 7, might employ AI technology to mimic the appearances or voices of earlier killers and victims for a new Stab film or documentary within the movie, or they could take a more ominous direction. Notably, Scream 7 is anticipated to reference Scream 3, much like how Scream 5 referred back to the original film and Scream 6 paid tribute to its sequel. In Scream 3, we find Sidney and Gale present during the production of a Stab movie that was based on events from the previous film.

If AI was utilized in the film-within-a-film to portray the new Ghostface, but the killer managed to obtain this technology, it could add an intriguing twist. In this scenario, the revamped Ghostface might employ deepfake technology for videos and phone calls, mimicking the voices of previous Ghostfaces, thereby making Sidney question their authenticity within the movie itself.

In the upcoming “Scream 7”, an innovative twist could be introducing a new Ghostface character modeled after Stu Macher, or equipping the antagonist with technology to mimic his voice. This would add a chilling dimension to the horror as characters like Sidney and Gale, who had personal encounters with Stu, would be targeted. This approach could prove intriguing, offering commentary on contemporary filmmaking while effectively incorporating legacy characters into the narrative.

2025-04-24 19:10