Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin the Series with the Seventh Installment.
The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.
"Returning to a role you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.
A Triumphant Return for Fallen Characters
It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.
The Weight of Iconic Status
For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small appearance is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he got the news from the original writer.
"I remember the conversation. I recall the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."
Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.
"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."
The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom
Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the beloved series.
"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"
Speculation and Anticipation Run High
While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier genre films, also exists.
Moviegoers will discover the truth when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.
