Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.
The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.
"Coming back to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.
An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters
Reports have confirmed that three different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.
The Pressure of Legendary Status
For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he got the offer from the original writer.
"I recall the phone call. I remember the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."
Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.
"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that appears every October 31st."
The Fear of Letting Down the Fans
Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting 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 points out. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"
Speculation and Anticipation Abound
While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps 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 situation. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.
Moviegoers will find out the answer when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.
