Ghostface OG Star the Actor Fears He Could Spoil the Series with Scream 7.
The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, 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 role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.
An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Favorites
Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.
The Pressure of Legendary Status
For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a small appearance is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he got the news from the original writer.
"I recall the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."
Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.
"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that appears every Halloween."
The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom
Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular series.
"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly 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 responsibility to not mess up the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"
Theories and Anticipation Abound
While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by earlier horror movies, also exists.
Moviegoers will find out the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.
