Ghostface OG Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.
The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This new chapter signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.
"Coming back to a character you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.
An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters
It has been established that three different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.
The Weight of Iconic Status
For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he got the news from the series creator.
"I recall the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."
Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling very 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 Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."
The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom
Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular series.
"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"
Speculation and Excitement Abound
While countless dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are in some way still living in a strange communal scenario. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by earlier horror movies, also exists.
Moviegoers will find out the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.
