Scream VI Team Weighs in on Those Persistent ‘Stu Is Alive’ Rumors

Rumors continue to swirl that Stu Macher is still alive in the Scream universe, leading to the cast and crew of Scream VI to comment.

In a franchise that’s known for its surprises, could we very well see the return of Stu Macher in the Scream franchise? Back in 1996, Matthew Lillard played the teen killer, revealed to be one of the two Ghostface killers alongside Skeet Ulrich’s Billy Loomis. Ulrich reprised the role, albeit as a hallucination, for a special cameo in last year’s Scream. That has only exacerbated rumors that Stu will return at some point as well, but with the character still alive. To boot, Lillard himself supports this theory, hopeful to return as Stu in a Scream movie.

Of course, longtime Scream fans will remember how Stu seemed to be pretty dead when Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) dropped one of those ultra-heavy 90s televisions onto his face in the original Scream. Even so, it’s never outright stated in the subsequent films that Stu is deceased; some fans believe he actually survived and went to prison, opening the door for a potential escape and continuation of his Ghostface killing spree. The theory was recently floated to Ulrich by Entertainment Tonight, and for his part, he hopes his former Scream co-star is in fact able to come back as Stu.

“Isn’t everything possible in this world? I hope so,” Ulrich said when asked if Lillard could potentially return as Stu. “I really hope so. He’s an incredible human being, and I know he wants it bad.”

Others from the Scream team also teased the possibility to ET. Co-director Tyler Gillett admits that it’s “possible,” while producer Chad Villella gives it a “maybe,” acknowledging that Stu is a fan favorite. Scream VI star Jasmin Savoy Brown similarly says that “anything is possible, baby.” Meanwhile, original Scream writer Kevin Williamson, who was previously insistent that Stu is dead, now says even he is more open to the idea of bringing back Matthew Lillard to reprise the role.

“I mean, I would say never but I have always been wrong when I do,” Williamson said. “You can’t say never.”

And even if Stu is dead, there are still other ways to bring Lillard back, as Williamson also notes, “There’s always that twin brother theory.”

Related: Matthew Lillard Is on Set Filming the Five Nights at Freddy’s Movie

“Dead” Characters Can Return in This Movie Series

It wouldn’t be anything new for a character presumed to be dead to return in a new Scream movie. Scream VI brings back Hayden Panettiere as Kirby Reed, a character stabbed and left for dead by Ghostface in Scream 4. Eager to return to the franchise, Panettiere recently revealed how she personally made her comeback as Kirby happen after fans observed how it never technically showed her dead body. Perhaps this will inspire the Scream team to give Lillard similar treatment in Scream 7.

“When [Scream] popped up and came back around, I was like, ‘I want to be a part of that again,’ because I hoped that Kirby was still alive. I willed her back into existence and I called them,” she said on Good Morning America. “I actually called them … when they were doing Scream 5 and I was like, ‘Without me?! Wait. Hold on. I might still be alive, and I could come in handy.'”

Scream VI will be hitting theaters on March 10, 2023. Check out the official trailer below.