The trailer for Scream 6 has made way for a variety of theories on who is behind the Ghostface mask this time, and some of them continue to link the killer to Scream’s Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard). The Scream franchise continues riding the wave of reboots/requels with its sixth installment, simply titled Scream 6, which will take the survivors of the latest Woodsboro murders to New York City. However, Scream 6 won’t count on the presence of Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), but it will welcome back legacy characters Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere).
Scream 6, then, will see Sam (Melissa Barrera), Tara (Jenna Ortega), Mindy (Jasmin Savoy-Brown), and Chad (Mason Gooding) moving to New York City to start a new chapter, but as they struggle to cope with the trauma (especially Tara), they will be haunted by a new Ghostface killer. The new Ghostface is more ruthless and brutal than previous ones, and they know too much about past killers and murders, so much so that they have a shrine with items that belonged to those who wore the mask before them and their victims. This, along with the subway map-like poster for Scream 6, has made way for various theories about the identity of the new Ghostface, with some of them still linking the killer to Stu Macher in different ways – and here’s how.
Scream 6 Theories Link The New Ghostface To Stu’s Family
The guys who started Ghostface’s reign of terror in Woodsboro and beyond were Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) and Stu Macher, though it was later revealed in Scream 3 that they were manipulated by Roman Bridger (Scott Foley). However, subsequent Scream movies have focused more on Billy Loomis and have left Stu aside, only mentioning him a couple of times, and even one of the killers in Scream 2 was linked to Billy – his mother, Nancy Loomis (Laurie Metcalf).
Now, one theory simply suggests that one of the killers in Scream 6 is related to Stu, and their motivation is all about giving him the credit he deserves after Billy has been stealing the spotlight all these years. Another, more believable theory suggests one of the new Ghostface killers is Stu’s sister, Leslie Macher, who has two reasons to wear the mask: to give some credit to her late brother, and avenge the death of her son, Vince (Kyle Galiner), in Scream 2022, though that would repeat Scream 2’s trick as she would be mirroring Nancy Loomis.
Could Stu Macher Be Behind The Ghostface Cult In Scream 6?
Another theory links Stu to the Ghostface shrine shown in the Scream 6 trailer. The theory (via CBR) explains that Stu survived the ending of Scream and his parents bought his freedom. Stu then moved to New York City, where he started a Ghostface cult, gathering all those objects seen in the shrine and inspiring or manipulating new Ghostface killers. This would explain how Scream 2022’s Amber (Mikey Madison) convinced her parents to move into the Machers’ house even though it was surely widely known that it was the site of the Woodsboro killings, as she would have been pushed into it by Stu. This could go in two directions: either Stu will be the mastermind behind the murders in Scream 6 (and also those in Scream 2022) or he will wear the Ghostface mask and costume once more, and will be the one who kills Gale Weathers.
One Detail In Scream 6’s Trailer Might Hint At Stu’s Return
Another theory claims Stu is the new Ghostface killer in Scream 6 based on one detail in the trailer. In it, Gale receives her first phone call from the killer and while she’s distracted, Ghostface appears in the background and attacks her companion. Ghostface later appears right behind her, ready to attack her, and they clean their knife in a very peculiar way. A TikTok user compared this brief moment in the Scream 6 trailer with how Stu cleaned his knife in the first movie after “attacking” Billy, and it’s the same movement.
Is Stu Macher Really Alive After Scream?
Stu Macher had one of the most brutal deaths in the Scream franchise when Sidney dropped a TV on his face, electrocuting him. It’s unclear when the “Stu is alive” idea began, but Scream writer Kevin Willamson believes it started after viewers spotted Matthew Lillard’s cameo in Scream 2, where he briefly appears in the background of the frat party. Williamson explained that Lillard came to visit the set that night and his cameo doesn’t mean anything, but the theories about Stu’s survival haven’t stopped. Williamson has now confirmed that Stu Macher is really dead, but the above-mentioned subway map-like poster for Scream 6 fueled the theories about his survival once again, as his “stop” is a pink dot, instead of a white one like the rest of the deceased characters. Scream 6 will be full of surprises, but Stu Macher’s return doesn’t have to be one of them.
