Scream 7’s Matthew Lillard Explains Why He’s ‘Nervous’ About People Seeing The Film

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Horror films have remained popular for a long time, which is great news for fans like myself. We’ve seen many classic horror movies return to cinemas with new installments, such as Wes Craven’s Scream. The seventh Scream movie is particularly exciting, and is one of the most eagerly awaited horror releases, largely because it will feature several returning, well-loved characters. Matthew Lillard is set to reprise his role as Stu, and recently explained why he’s feeling anxious about the film’s release.

Information about Scream 7 is still scarce, but excitement is building – particularly because of the planned appearances of several characters who previously died. It’s unclear exactly how Matthew Lillard will reprise his role as the original Ghostface, but fans have long speculated whether Stu survived. In a recent interview with People, the 55-year-old actor expressed his anxieties about the upcoming sequel, stating:

I’m feeling anxious, as right now, my biggest fear is damaging people’s perception of Stu. [Especially] if I return and perform poorly or seem uninspired.

Several important points were raised. Stu is a much-loved character in the Scream series, and Matthew Lillard’s enthusiastic performance in the original 1996 film was a key factor in the movie’s success. Therefore, bringing that character back does present a danger of damaging the reputation of this popular villain.

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The most recent two Scream films, available to watch with a Paramount+ subscription, mainly centered on the newer characters, particularly the Carpenter sisters. However, the seventh movie will feature Neve Campbell reprising her role as Sidney Prescott as the main character. She’ll be joined by other returning characters from previous films, including Dewey, played by David Arquette, who passed away in the 2022 installment.

Later in that same interview, Lillard spoke more about his return to Scream, offering:

I still haven’t had a chance to watch the movie. I’m not sure if it will be successful, but it’s a chance I was willing to take. It definitely feels like a gamble. At the same time, I’m anxious to see how it’s received. I’m really hoping audiences enjoy it. It’s not a project we’ll be celebrating with champagne, that’s for sure. This is about something much bigger – it’s a core part of what we stand for and our lasting impact. It’s part of our legacy, and reflects who we are as a team.

There’s definitely a chance it could fail, but I’m hopeful that dedicated horror fans – like me – will be particularly excited about Scream 7. People were disappointed that Neve Campbell wasn’t in Scream VI, so the idea of her coming back with other original cast members is really exciting. However, it remains to be seen if the movie’s director, Kevin Williamson, can deliver a satisfying conclusion.

Scream is a movie I absolutely love, and I’m really interested to see what they’ll do with Lillard’s character, Stu Macher, in the new sequel. Bringing back elements from the original films is a bit of a gamble, but thankfully, director Kevin Williamson also wrote the very first Scream movie, so he understands the series perfectly. We’ll just have to wait and see how he does with his first time directing one of these films.

Everything will become clear when Scream 7 comes out in theaters on February 27th, as part of the 2026 film schedule. People are saying the first trailer is coming soon, and we’re hoping that happens.

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2025-09-29 20:08