Scream 7 actor Mason Gooding teases the nature of Matthew Lillard’s franchise return. Gooding was first introduced to the Ghostface-centric franchise for the 2022 reboot of Scream. There, the then-25-year-old played Chad Meeks-Martin, who is Tara Carpenter’s love interest in the revival series. Chad is also a survivor of the deadly 26th anniversary Legacy Killings in Woodsboro, California. After surviving the events of Scream and Scream VI, Gooding will return to Scream 7. Lillard is also coming back for Scream 7 along with Sidney Prescott actor Neve Campbell.
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Gooding hypes up Lillard’s Scream 7 return. Speaking about his appreciation for the actor, Gooding said that “Lillard’s been a huge part of [his] understanding and love for the medium.” He thinks that Lillard’s return for Scream 7 is “far different than [he] imagine[s] anyone will be able to anticipate.” He also went on to praise co-star Scott Foley, calling him “incredible.” Check out the full quote from Gooding below:
Matthew Lillard’s been a huge part of my understanding and love for the medium for a very long time. When you consider his work in the context of [the first] Scream, you realize that was actually him kind of reigning it in and being more grounded given the circumstances. To see where they’re taking that understanding and dynamic in 7 is far different than I imagine anyone will be able to anticipate, and they will absolutely deliver.
I cannot wait for people to see what they’re cooking, so to speak, with Matthew and Scott, because it’s something special.
What This Means For Scream 7
Both Characters Died In Previous Movies
Though Lillard made cameos in Scream 2 and 2022’s Scream, the actor is best known for his work in the original Scream. Playing Stuart aka “Stu” Macher, Lillard is one of the antagonists of this film, as he goes along with Billy Loomis as an accomplice in the original Woodsboro Murders. These murders haunt the rest of the Scream franchise, including Gooding’s Chad in the 2022 film. At the end of Scream, Stu is electrocuted and seems to die, making Lillard’s franchise return complicated. Gooding hints at a new “dynamic” in Scream 7, which could potentially mean a ghost appearance.
As for Foley, he last appeared in Scream 3, which Gooding revealed to be a secret favorite of his. He plays Roman Bridger, the main antagonist of Scream 3 and the fifth Ghostface to be revealed. Despite initially evading mortality with a bulletproof vest, Roman dies in Scream 3, as he is both stabbed and shot in the head. This makes his return to Scream 7 confusing, but Gooding maintains that “something special” is at play with both the Lillard and Foley returns, even if he has yet to reveal what that is.
Our Take On This Scream 7 News
Scream 7 Seems Unlikely To Repeat Their Fake Death Trope
The Scream movies have dealt with fake deaths before, but fully resuscitating two characters from the dead would be a bit much for the franchise. As such, it seems likely that Scream 7 has something unique at play, such as ghosts, or more. The the fact that Gooding thinks audiences will not be able to predict or “anticipate” what is to come hints at something far bigger than a convoluted fake death.
Source: EW
Scream 7
- Release Date
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February 27, 2026
- Director
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Kevin Williamson