For five films, the lore of Scream has expanded and built on previous entries through the lives of Sidney Prescott and now Sam and Tara Carpenter. But it's the killers that often stole the show as they were almost always tied to the main character's past, making the stakes even higher. But Scream VI begs the question of what a series can do when all potential callbacks have seemingly been exhausted. But the answer for whom the killer may be lies with the Ghostface mask itself.
Given the mask's distressed state, it may be one of the original Ghostface masks worn by Skeet Ulrich's Billy Loomis and Matthew Lillard's Stu Macher in the first Scream movie. While this could suggest Scream VI's new killer or killers is just a fan, it may also tease the long-awaited return of a fan-favorite legacy character, specifically Stu.
Scream VI's Ghostface Mask Is Likely the Original
In past Scream entries, the Ghostface mask had an evolution where it was initially started as nothing more than a ghoul mask from a local costume shop. But following Stu Macher and Billy Loomis's crimes, the mask gained an iconography that spawned an in-universe film series titled Stab. Now, it was even easier to get the costume, and many killers in the films did so to fuel their own murderous desires. But in Scream VI, the mask is surprisingly tarnished, peeling and sprinkled with blood. Though it's strange that the killer would use this mask, their motivation proves that this is the most important Ghostface mask of them all, as it's the original one.
In the trailer for Scream VI, the main characters find the killer's lair and learn that they're admirers of the killings, which may allude to Ghostface's overall agenda. To make matters scarier, this Ghostface also has memorabilia of past Scream films, as well as the cloaks used in the murders. As a result, Sam and Tara aren't facing a random person using the mask to prove a point, but a superfan who learned from each murder and could be the most perfect iteration of Ghostface in the franchise yet. But the reason for this may include the return of a long-thought-dead killer from the original, Stu Macher.
Scream VI's Ghostface Mask May Tease Stu Macher's Return
Stu was the cohort of Billy Loomis, and while not as unhinged as his friend, he was just as capable of murder. He was seemingly killed in Scream when Sidney dropped a television on his head. However, the fanbase has championed the theory that Stu survived, and even Scream (2022) had a small Easter egg of YouTubers theorizing if Stu survived. As a result, he could be the one using his old mask to attack Sam, Tara and her friends, considering the history all the survivors have with him. Even more interesting, a recent interview with Stu actor Matthew Lillard had him stating that he wasn't in Scream VI but followed up by saying he may be lying. Considering that Lillard has wanted to return as Stu and believed the character had lived since day one, his return would be a welcome surprise.
When it comes to actor testimonies, things are under scrutiny now more than ever, especially after Andrew Garfield's vehement denials about being in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Because of this, the odds that Stu could be behind the mask are more likely than ever. Plus, considering that the killer is an admirer of past killings, it could mean Stu isn't a fan but a proud father figure ready to take matters into his own hands. In the end, anything is possible, but like the mysteries in the series that came before, the evidence could be hiding in plain sight.
To see if Stu makes a reappearance, Scream VI hits theaters on March 10.