Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Series with Scream 7.
The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.
"Returning to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.
An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites
It has been established that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's 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 apprehensive about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he got the offer from the series creator.
"I remember the conversation. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."
Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.
"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that appears every Halloween."
The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans
Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved series.
"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly 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 pressure to not ruin the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"
Theories and Anticipation Run High
While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way still living in a bizarre communal situation. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also exists.
Audiences will find out the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.
