🔗 Share this article Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Franchise 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 gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray. "Returning to a character you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor reveals. A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Characters It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist 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 series for the first time since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he got the news from the original writer. "I remember the conversation. I remember the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back." Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious. "The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween." The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular series. "It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the film will be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'" Speculation and Anticipation Abound While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are in some way still living in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table. Audiences will discover the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.
The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray. "Returning to a character you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor reveals. A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Characters It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist 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 series for the first time since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he got the news from the original writer. "I remember the conversation. I remember the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back." Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious. "The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween." The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular series. "It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the film will be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'" Speculation and Anticipation Abound While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are in some way still living in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table. Audiences will discover the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.