With the recent release of Scream 7, a lot of fans have been speculating on the nature of Matthew Lillard’s return to the franchise. This is nothing new, as some fans have never stopped theorizing about Stu Macher’s fate since 1996’s Scream.
I will preface this by saying that I myself am what you might call a “Stu’s alive” moderate. I am not necessarily a “Stu Truther” but a part of me doesn’t totally hate the idea of Stu coming back (in any capacity, really)—I am a big Matthew Lillard fan, after all. Although I think Matthew Lillard’s casting in Sceam 7 only means that Stu would be returning either in the form of a flashback, or, based on Scream’s meta commentary on the technology of the times, as in the form of AI. This seems likely, given that the actors of many other deceased Scream characters are returning to Scream 7 as well, so one could assume that their likenesses could be used via AI to torment Sidney. But just because I don’t necessarily think he’s alive doesn’t mean it isn’t fun to speculate on a fan favourite Ghostface returning to our beloved franchise.
Many Scream fans can at least agree on the fact that Stu was destined to come back in Scream 3, but don’t believe it’s possible to retrofit this premise into the plot 30 years later. However, some fans refuse to believe Stu Macher is dead. There are multiple theories surrounding that claim the OG Ghostface killer might still be alive, ranging from him being the fourth killer in Scream 6, to him orchestrating a cult of teenage Ghostfaces from a mental institution. I have compiled a list of the wildest ‘Stu is still alive’ theories from Reddit (plus a bonus Scream 7 theory from Creepy Catalogue).
These fans think these clues prove Stu Macher survived Scream…
Is Stu Macher Still Alive?
15 Wild “Stu Macher Is Alive” Fan Theories
Editor’s Note: The following theories are in each of the writers’ own words. Therefore, references to the franchise films may be inaccurate. These theories are for entertainment purposes only.
Stu Macher Is Alive In A Mental Institution
“As we know, the original plan for Scream 3 was that Stu Macher was going to be the ringleader of a group of teenage Ghostfaces, orchestrating the killings from prison. However, that plan was ultimately scrapped because of Columbine and not wanting to have a high-school killer storyline. The leaks so far seem to suggest that perhaps this may be recycled, but instead of Stu orchestrating from prison, he will be orchestrating from ([and] obviously, escap[ing] from) a mental institution.”
– JanelleForever
“We open [Scream 7] at the end of the OG Scream, with medical personnel realizing Stu is still alive, although he is badly hurt and even disfigured due to the TV. He heals up in hospital and, when well enough, stands trial for what happened. Now, due to the sensitivity of everything and expecting backlash, the courts and police have kept it quiet as they don’t want essentially a Mob coming to take justice. He is ultimately found to be mentally unfit to stand trial and is committed to an asylum out of town under a fake name, the same town Sidney will end up living in. Everyone else goes on believing he has died.”
– Wise-Juggernaut6851
‘Gutting’ Is Stu’s Thing
Reddit user AJ14909X has this elaborate theory:
“My theory is [that] in the Scream franchise, gutting is a kill style exclusive to only Stu.
Let me elaborate.
Firstly, there is no direct confirmation of whether Billy or Stu executed certain attacks or kills, but some are heavily implied; I’m going to give my reasoning as to who I think did what to support my theory.
Case 1: Casey and Steve
Casey and Steve are both gutted. Obviously. Since I think Billy was on the phone, I find it very likely Stu did the dirty work on Steve here. With Casey, it’s up for grabs as to whether it was Billy or Stu who planted the knife, but regardless, it would’ve taken 2 people to hang her up like that, and in such a short amount of time, I’d lay the gutting on Stu. But why Stu and not Billy? Here’s why.
Case 2: How do you gut someone?
It’s no secret [that] Stu was pretty quick to answer this question pitted by Sidney. He had his answer ready… like he did it fresh the night before. Sounds flimsy on its own.. but I do not think that Billy hallmarked It like Stu did. I’m a strong supporter, like most, that Billy did the deed on Tatum… who was arguably the easiest to gut if he wanted to or knew how, since she was already suspended in the air… plus we learn from Steve that in-universe, gutting can take as little as a handful of seconds. No one was around in the garage, [and] there was time to work with… But did he? No. Because Billy doesn’t care for the theatrical effect and isn’t doing it for the fun of it… or… peer pressure…
Case 3: Himbry deep dive
Another general majority agreement among the community is that Billy took out Principal Himbry. At least as far as I’m aware. And I am part of the majority who believe Billy is behind the mask in the principal’s office when it happens. Almost undisputed as truth, since Stu was walking out of school with Tatum and Sid at this point. BUT. My theory is that between Billy murdering Arthur and popping up again later at the video store, who can say that Stu didn’t return to school after inviting Sidney and Tatum to the party to assist Billy with the hanging of the principal? And to add his signature finish as well? I don’t think Billy could have SOLO hung himbry from an American football goalpost (typically 10 feet in height!!), taking into account that even Casey, a fairly petit character, would’ve likely still been a 2-man job. We see him turn back towards the direction of the school at the end of his scene with the girls, as opposed to continuing the walk home with them. From that point onwards, Stu is no longer accounted for.
Case 4: What’s up with Kenny?
Now this is a loose end I can’t quite tie up, but maybe someone else can. Now I’m fairly certain in myself that the whole fiasco where Sid is chased around Stu’s house, Dewey is stabbed in the back, Randy is stalked while watching the TV and Kenny is murdered.. is all Stu across the board (argue with me if you will, but Billy is implied to only have been playing “dying victim” upstairs that whole time and I don’t believe he left that room during that time to come downstairs then back upstairs without being seen. Firstly, why the hell was Kenny on the roof of the van? My only guess is that Stu wanted some kind of “cinematic gutting” but was pressured for time and/or became more focused [on] chasing Sidney instead. But again… can’t really make much sense of this one. Just looks as though he was going to finish the job, but abandoned ship halfway through with Kenny. Beyond that, there is no clearly marked evidence that Kenny was gutted (as far as I’m aware). But I think he would’ve been.”
The Requel Theory
“Amber had a second motive, just like Stu Macher. Since Scream 5 is a requel to the original, and Amber is supposed to portray Stu (and Richie is portraying Billy), Stu’s first motive was “peer pressure” but according to fans it could have also been the jealousy he felt towards her girlfriend dumping him for another guy (Steve Orth) who Stu later ended up killing along with his ex girlfriend, Casey.
But making the “love interests” both the killers again would’ve been too obvious for a requel, right? So as it’s known, the directors cut out the direct lines between Tara and Amber being a couple or love interests whatsoever. But I felt like the directors did a trick on us.
If we are looking at it from an Amber-Tara perspective, even just from the opening scene, Amber was asking a lot about Wes from Tara and potentially even being jealous. Wes and Amber had some pretty heated dialogues, and even if Amber just meant it as banter, we know she highly disliked Wes just from what she texted Tara in the opening scene. One of these heated dialogues ended in the audience finding out Wes might have had a small crush on Tara. So that might explain the weird atmosphere between these two characters.
Later on in the movie, we see Amber trying to kill Tara, but we also see Wes getting killed. Which could again be a connection to Stu Macher from the original Scream. I believe Amber Freeman had a second motive of jealousy and hatred, just like Stu.”
– Future_Paint11
Parental Bribery Theories
Coroner Bribery
“It’s very simple to bring Stu back. The EMTs show up. They check all the bodies, including Stu’s, for a pulse. You know those stories of how people were declared dead because they couldn’t find a pulse, only to be found very much alive later on down the road. So they take Stu’s seemingly dead body to the morgue. His family says no autopsy and decides to cremate him. While the coroner is undressing him, all of a sudden, Stu grabs him, but is way too weak to do anything else. The coroner freaks out, but then realizes he has an opportunity to make some money, being that the Machers were well off. So instead of calling the police, he or she calls his family. They pay the coroner off and take Stu away before anybody can find out. Also, the footage is accidentally erased or lost. They send Stu away to heal and recover, and for the next 30 years, he’s hidden away so that he never faces any charges. Also, if you wanted to with the TV falling on his head, when Stu wakes up, he could have no memory whatsoever of who he is or what he did. It’s only because his sister, after her [son] is killed, goes to him and shows him everything. Stu gets his memory back and, once again, returns to go after Sidney for revenge and finally kill her.”
– Class_Able
Police Bribery/The John Doe Theory
“Woodsborough is a small town. Small town police department, likely embarrassed by the only murders they’d seen in a decade besides Maureen Prescott. Embarrassment and public ridicule towards their PD. Stu’s parents did have money, and one could reasonably assume a connection or two to some of the cops on the force. In all honesty, it could have been a situation like: Look. This kid is scarred for life, has 0 brain function, and your whole police department looks stupid (a guy like Dewey literally becomes the sheriff). Maybe there was somewhat of a deal, like, “ Hey, let’s just sweep this under the rug and save face by putting him in a mental institution for the rest of his life”. Obviously, the case was publicized, so let’s check him under “John Doe” or an alias so nobody ever knows, and he’ll never hurt anyone. I think that’s entirely plausible, considering how incompetent the Woodsborough police department is in these movies. It’s also 1996. I think that’s more plausible than IN 2024 A DETECTIVE FAKING HIS OWN DAUGHTER’S MURDER WITH THE LARGEST POLICE FORCE ON EARTH!! That made 0 sense and likely would never happen. If they were ok with that, why not accept something along those lines like this? Just bad policing, affluent parents, and a psychopath locked up in an institution for the rest of his life, unable to hurt anyone.”
– SocietyOfGhostface
Ms. Loomis’s Coverup
“Billy’s mom sneaks into the morgue before 2 to say goodbye to her son, only to find Stu actually alive, but barely. She gets a corpse and mutilates it to look like him. She’s a psycho mother after all. They never say if the bodies were buried or cremated. She could have started the cremation of another body and put the tag on it. Hell, she could have burned both, and that’s her final farewell to her, so. Sheriffs office could have known but figured it was no big deal. The cops in that town, especially at the time of the first movie, were dumb as shit. But our little new favourite detective figured it out, and that’s why she had a “?” in 6. Stu’s mom brings him back to health. Knowing he would go to jail, she hides him. Since Scream 4, he’s been the Jigsaw-style person leading all the killers to do his dirty work. He started the subreddit and manipulates everyone, and finds the true killers. Cultivating them all. Would be perfect for the [new] franchise style. Where now legacy characters are there for shock value as well. The legacy character can be a killer all along. Tie it all together with an OG yet again. The killer comes back from the dead, blah blah blah. His parents could be a part of it, but I think that’s kinda lame. But if he had a kid that seduced Sam or Tara or another survivor would be legit too.”
– Tr0llzor
Roman Had A Partner?
“[Matthew Lillard and Scott Foley’s] characters are at the centre of two of the biggest theories regarding Ghostface in the entire franchise. “Stu is alive” and “Roman had a partner”. So maybe people will be led to believe BOTH that Stu lived to be Roman’s partner, considering their shared involvement in Maureen’s murder.”
– ThePicturesGirl
Stu’s Signature ‘Knife Swipe’
“In [the] 5th movie when Ghostface is attacking Gale Weathers, they did the special move of wiping blood from [the] knife… and who did that? Stu! I can’t believe that it was a coincidence.”
– elizabethmoore_666
The Stab vs IRL Continuity Theory
“Richie says in Scream (2022) that in the Stab movies, there are always two killers. That means at least part of Stab 3 must’ve been fictionalized. Because we know [from] the “real” events that Roman was solo. Kirby even confirms this in VI. Also in Scream (2022), in Richie’s recommended feed on YouTube, there is a video titled “Did the real life Stu Macher survive?” Why did it need to specify “real life”? Maybe because Stu already survived in the Stab series.”
– ThePicturesGirl
The Double Tap Rule
“He was the only Ghostface to never get a “double tap”. Billy, Mickey, Mrs. Loomis, Roman, Jill, Richie and Amber all essentially were killed, came back for one final scare and were killed again. Stu only got a tv to the head… BUT WAIT, Charlie never got a double tap! Maybe Charlie is the one that’s coming back. Okay, I’m joking. Charlie was stabbed in the heart, and we did watch him die soooo who knows.”
– truckerhat_boi
“Before going and finishing off Ghostface [Dewey] says that killers need to [be] shot in the head, otherwise they will come back. This is a reference to Stu because he wasn’t shot in the head.”
– Alessandriafrancesco
Username ElDeeDubya listing times that the “double tap” was mentioned:
“OG scream: Randy: this is the part [where] the killer comes back, bang, Sidney, not in my movie. Establishing the scream double tap.
Scream 3 (but when he was alive so [Scream 2]): Randy: Stabbing him won’t work. Shooting him won’t work. Basically, in the third one, you gotta cryogenically freeze his head, decapitate him, or blow him up.
Scream 3: Sidney: Dewey, in the head
Scream 4: IDR it being mentioned
Scream 5: Dewey: You gotta shoot them in the head.
Scream 6: Sam: Always gotta shoot them in the head.”
The Mask Choice Theory
“In 2022, Quinn Bailey, one of the suspects in the Ghostface killings, openly took responsibility for attacking Gale Weathers in her apartment. This admission raises questions about who really committed the crime.
Quinn revealed that her favourite Ghostface mask belonged to Stu Macher. However, during the assault on Gale, the Ghostface present wore Billy Loomis’ mask instead of Stu’s. This inconsistency implies that Quinn might not have been the one wearing the mask during the attack.”
– Alessandriafrancesco
The Significance Of Vince
“I feel like this guy being related to Stu Macher was overlooked by a lot of fans, or maybe I’m assuming, but what happened to him in Scream 5 must have consequences for Scream 7.”
– TheAlmightyDollarz
“Killing off his nephew [was] kind of pointless narratively otherwise.”
– [deleted account]
Evidence: The Principal Himbry Sketch
“The sketch of Himbry in the shrine shows the image of him dead in the office; nobody would have seen that except someone who was there.”
– [deleted account]
The Kirby Of It All
“Kirby [is] the most clear and direct parallel to Stu. Two characters who were “killed” at the end of their respective first entries, but whose creators intended for them to return.”
– JanelleForever
A Scream 7 Killer Theory
“The trailer shows that Stu Macher’s home has been turned into an AirBnb. Ghostface arrives and terrorizes a couple of guests before saying, “I’m gonna burn it all down” and setting fire to the home. Who would be that triggered by Stu’s home being turned into a tourist destination for obnoxious fans and looky-loos? Stu Macher would. His voice can even be heard at the end of the trailer saying, ‘This is gonna be fun.’”
– Chrissy Stockton, Creepy Catalogue
Do you think Stu Macher is still alive? Which of these theories do you believe? Which ones do you disagree with? Sound off in the comment section below.