Scream Original Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Series 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 latest installment marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.
"Returning to a role you played in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.
An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters
Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.
The Weight of Iconic Status
For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he got the offer from the series creator.
"I remember the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "So I'm incredibly honored 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 made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.
"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."
The Fear of Letting Down the Fans
Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense anxiety 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 points out. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"
Speculation and Anticipation Run High
While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.
Moviegoers will discover the answer when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.
