SCREAM Star Matthew Lillard Believes The Franchise Has Become "Too Violent"

SCREAM Star Matthew Lillard Believes The Franchise Has Become "Too Violent"

In a recent interview, original Scream actor Matthew Lillard shared his thoughts on the latest films in the long-running slasher franchise...

By MarkCassidy - Nov 06, 2024 08:11 AM EST
Filed Under: Scream

Matthew Lillard played one of the original Ghostfaces, Stu Macher, in Wes Craven's Scream, and despite the character meeting a violent - and seemingly pretty definitive end - fans continue to speculate and theorize that the deranged killer could return in the upcoming Scream 7.

For his part, Lillard has said that he believes Stu is still alive, and would be happy to reprise the role if that was something fans wanted to see.

“Stu is definitely alive, right? My character Stu is definitely alive. I would love it. If it made sense for the franchise. If Kevin [Williamson] liked it. Then sure. Obviously.”

Williamson is set to helm the next movie in the long-running horror franchise, but it remains to be seen if Lillard will be back. In a more recent interview with Games Radar, the actor praised the later films, but feels the last one - Scream VI - was "too violent."

“I think it’s in a good place. I think that [the franchise being] back in the hands of Kevin Williamson is great. I love what [Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin] were doing before. Nothing against them. In fact, I thought they were taking a really exciting way.”

“I thought the movie got too violent," he added. "I think 6 was, like… I don’t think Ghostface ever needs a shotgun. I think that the movies are – everything is trying to repeat what we did in the first movie in a lot of ways. Like, a maniacal monologue at the end. It’s really hard to do. I hope that Kevin takes it in a brand new, brave, and exciting direction so that we can sort of find different colors and different joys.” 

Since the first Scream movie is arguably still the most brutally violent (remember that opening sequence with Drew Barrymore?) of the franchise, Lillard's comments have raised a few eyebrows - though some fans are also of the opinion that Ghostface should stick to knives as his/her weapons of choice.

After sitting out the last movie, Neve Campbell recently announced that she will return as Sidney Prescott for the upcoming seventh instalment.

“Sidney Prescott is coming back!” Campbell posted on Instagram when her return was made official. “It’s always been such a blast and an honor to get to play Sidney in the Scream movies. My appreciation for these films and for what they have meant to me, has never waned. I’m very happy and proud to say I’ve been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

"Following the latest Ghostface killings, the four survivors leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter," reads Scream VI's synopsis. "In Scream VI, Melissa Barrera ("Sam Carpenter"), Jasmin Savoy Brown ("Mindy Meeks-Martin"), Mason Gooding ("Chad Meeks-Martin"), Jenna Ortega ("Tara Carpenter"), Hayden Panettiere ("Kirby Reed"), and Courtney Cox ("Gale Weathers") return to their roles in the franchise alongside Jack Champion, Henry Czerny, Liana Liberato, Dermot Mulroney, Devyn Nekoda, Tony Revolori, Josh Segarra and Samara Weaving."

SCREAM 7 Casts 1923 Star Isabel May As Sidney Prescott's Daughter
Related:

SCREAM 7 Casts 1923 Star Isabel May As Sidney Prescott's Daughter

SCREAM: Fired Star Melissa Barrera Says She Still Hasn't Spoken To The Returning Neve Campbell
Recommended For You:

SCREAM: Fired Star Melissa Barrera Says She Still Hasn't Spoken To The Returning Neve Campbell

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, Fear HQ is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. Fear HQ will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that Fear HQ, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

Be the first to comment and get the conversation going!

Please log in to post comments.

Don't have an account?
Please Register.

View Recorder