Matthew Lillard says he now regrets returning to the 'Scream' franchise after Melissa Barrera was fired from 'Scream 7', admitting he was on the 'wrong side of history' in accepting the role.
Lillard, who first played Stu Macher in Wes Craven's 1996 horror film, made the remarks during a Q&A after a 30th‑anniversary screening of 'Scream' in Austin, Texas.
The discussion turned to the challenges public figures can face when speaking about political issues, prompting Lillard to reflect on Barrera's departure from the franchise.
Barrera, who played Sam Carpenter in 2022's 'Scream' and 2023's 'Scream VI', was dropped from the seventh film in November 2023 after sharing social media posts about the Israel-Gaza war.
Spyglass Media Group, the production company behind the franchise, said at the time that it had 'zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form'.
Matthew Lillard Reflects on Melissa Barrera's Firing
During the Q&A, Lillard described Barrera as a 'beautiful actor' and said he believed she should have received more public support after her firing. 'When that happened to Melissa, the whole world didn't pipe up,' Lillard said, according to footage and reports of the event. He added that he believed more people should have publicly supported her.
Lillard then turned the criticism towards his own decision to return to the franchise. 'I went back to do Scream, and I got called out,' he said. 'I feel bad about that. I feel ashamed about that.
Lillard continued, 'Because in that moment I was so excited to go back, I didn't really think about Melissa and that journey. I didn't say no.'
The actor went on to acknowledge that he still enjoyed appearing in the film but questioned whether accepting the role had been the right decision. 'I'm embarrassed; that's the truth,' Lillard said.
'I blew that. I'm on the wrong side of history for that. I still like being in the movie. It may not have been the best idea,' he concluded.
Barrera's Scream 7 Exit Changed the Film
Barrera's departure triggered changes to 'Scream 7'. She had been expected to continue as Sam Carpenter, the central character introduced in the 2022 relaunch of the franchise.
Following her exit, Jenna Ortega also left the project, while director Christopher Landon departed. The film was subsequently reworked around Neve Campbell's original character, Sidney Prescott. Kevin Williamson, who wrote the screenplay for the original 'Scream', returned to write and direct the seventh instalment.
Barrera later said that acting opportunities had largely dried up for a period following her firing. In a 2024 interview, she said the industry had been relatively quiet for around 10 months, although she continued to receive some offers.
Barrera has also criticised those who joined 'Scream 7' after her departure, with reports saying she described actors who participated in the film as 'scabs' in the context of the dispute.
Matthew Lillard Returned as Stu Macher
Despite the controversy surrounding the franchise, Lillard ultimately returned as Stu Macher in 'Scream 7', nearly three decades after the character was seemingly killed in the original film.
The return marked one of the most significant links between the new film and the original 'Scream'. Lillard's Stu was one of the two killers in the 1996 movie alongside Skeet Ulrich's Billy Loomis.
'Scream 7' was released in cinemas in February 2026 and became the highest‑grossing film in the franchise.
Lillard's latest comments set out his view of his decision to return to the franchise nearly three years after Barrera's firing. For the actor, the return to 'Scream' brought the opportunity to revisit one of his most recognisable roles. He now says he wishes he had considered Barrera's situation more carefully before agreeing to come back.
