Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.
The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't 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 kept me up at night," Lillard admits.
An Unexpected Return for Fallen Characters
Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.
The Pressure of Iconic Legacy
For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.
"I remember the conversation. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."
Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling very nervous.
"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now represented in each and every Scream mask that appears every Halloween."
The Fear of Disappointing the Fans
Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.
"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "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 plenty of people come out 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 ruin the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"
Speculation and Excitement Run High
While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by classic horror movies, also exists.
Audiences will discover the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.
