Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.
The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter 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 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.
An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters
It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.
The Weight of Iconic Legacy
For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he received the offer from the series creator.
"I recall the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."
Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.
"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."
The Fear of Disappointing the Fans
Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular series.
"The outcome is either a hit 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 be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"
Theories and Anticipation Run High
While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow all alive in a strange shared situation. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by classic genre films, also is on the table.
Audiences will discover the answer when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.
