Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Series with the Seventh Installment.
The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, 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 mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.
A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Favorites
It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, even though dying in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.
The Weight of Legendary Legacy
For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the original writer.
"I recall the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "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 original film premiered, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.
"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."
The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans
Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.
"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"
Theories and Anticipation Run High
While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way still living in a bizarre communal situation. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.
Moviegoers will find out the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.
