Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.
The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.
"Returning to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.
An Unexpected Return 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 previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.
The Pressure of Legendary Status
For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the series creator.
"I recall the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."
Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the decades since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.
"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "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 production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular series.
"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state 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 hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"
Theories and Excitement Run High
While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are in some way still living in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.
Audiences will find out the truth when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.
