Scream OG Star the Actor Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.
The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.
"Coming back to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.
A Triumphant Return for Fallen Characters
Reports have confirmed that three different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.
The Pressure of Legendary Status
For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the series creator.
"I recall the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That moment 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 attained iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.
"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."
The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans
Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.
"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I am unsure 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 idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"
Speculation and Excitement Abound
While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way still living in a bizarre shared situation. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.
Moviegoers will find out the truth when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.
