Ghostface OG Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Series with the Seventh Installment.
The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside 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 twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor admits.
A Triumphant Return for Fallon Characters
It has been established that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.
The Weight of Legendary Status
For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a small cameo is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the news from the series creator.
"I remember the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."
Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling very nervous.
"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now represented in each and every Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."
The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans
Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular series.
"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"
Theories and Excitement Abound
While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are somehow all alive in a strange communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also exists.
Audiences will discover the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.
