A trailer that dropped this week for “Scream 7” is giving fans of Stu Macher (portrayed by Matthew Lillard) some details to hang new theories on. Watch the trailer above.

The film is the seventh in the “Scream” franchise, which debuted 30 years ago. It will debut in theaters Feb. 27, 2026.

In the 1996 film “Scream,” the character Stu Macher is revealed to be one of the Ghostface killers, along with his pal Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich). Macher is apparently killed at the end of the film, when a large, heavy television falls on his head but fans have been speculating for years that Stu survived his injuries and would return.

Matthew Lillard is listed on IMDb as once again portraying Stu Macher in the seventh installment but fans aren’t sure whether he will return in flashbacks or as an aging serial killer.

The latest trailer has given rise to some theories. It shows the exterior of a mental hospital, which fans are guessing has been Stu’s home for the past 30 years. Watch a YouTube video about that theory below.

“One notable part of the newest look into ‘Scream 7’ is that someone is in Fallbrook Psychiatric Hospital and they are drawing some really weird pictures,” writes Tai Gooden in a story for Nerdist. “Of course, the idea of someone being locked away in a psychiatric hospital is fueling the long-standing theory that Stu is actually alive.”

In addition, the Macher home returns in this film. The climax of the original film took place at Stu Macher’s house, where the teens were having a party while his parents were out. The house also had a role in 2022’s “Scream,” also known as Scream 5. It was then owned by Ghostface killer Amber Freeman (portrayed by Mikey Madison) and was also the scene of the climax. For “Scream 7,” the action beings in the Macher home, which has been turned into an Airbnb for horror fans.

Two other presumed-dead characters will return in this installment, including Roman Bridger (portrayed by Scott Foley in “Scream 3”) and Dewey Riley (portrayed by David Arquette) who was killed in Scream 5. In what capacity those characters will return is anyone’s guess.

“Scream 7” will be the first film in the series to be directed by Kevin Williamson, the creator of the franchise and screenwriter for “Scream” (1996), “Scream 2” (1997) and “Scream 4” (2011), according to the film’s IMDb page,

Birmingham-born Courteney Cox, the only actor to appear in all seven films, returns as Gale Weathers. Other actors in the film include Neve Campbell, once again returning as Sidney Prescott; Jasmin Savoy-Brown and Mason Gooding as twins Mindy and Chad; Joel McHale as Sidney’s husband, Mark; and newcomers to the series Anna Camp, Mckenna Grace, Michelle Randolph, Jimmy Tatro, Asa Germann, Celeste O’Connor, Sam Rechner, Ethan Embry, Tim Simons, and Mark Consuelos, according to Collider.