Matthew Lillard Is ‘Embarrassed’ About Returning for ‘Scream 7’

I will be upfront: I didn’t care for the most recent entry in the Scream franchise, or the one before it. The sixth and seventh films in this series feel more like standard slashers than the genre-satirizing affairs we’d come to expect. And it’s not just because Wes Craven wasn’t involved. I very much enjoyed the 2022 Scream and thought everyone involved made a film possessed by the same spirit as the original films. Then, the next one was rushed into production, and the second one got flipped on its head due to studio cowardice, and here we are.

The newer film tried hard to win over fans by bringing back Neve Campbell, who had turned down the sixth installment thanks to the studio trying to lowball her. But the Producers didn’t stop there. Original writer Kevin Williamson was brought back to direct, and a slew of former cast members were announced as returning, including Matthew Lillard. Fans were intrigued, as Lillard’s character and some of the others returning were… dead. But the reason for their return ended up being pretty lame.

Now, Lillard is reflecting on his return to the film series and expressing his regrets. But he isn’t regretful because the movie wasn’t very good. Lillard feels bad because he returned to a franchise that had fired Melissa Barrera for speaking up for the people of Palestine. Barrera’s decision to use her voice cost her the lead in a successful franchise, and Lillard is now lamenting the fact that he returned after the studio had treated her so poorly.

The actor was participating in a Q&A when he brought up the idea of standing up for those around you, specifically his queer children (via Deadline). Then, he noted that he and others should have stood by Barrera as well. “And when they start coming after your job, sometimes things are worth it. But I’m just gonna say, what happened to Melissa, the whole world didn’t pipe up. She was like a year early on what the f***’s going on, but the whole world should have piped up and said, ‘she’s right,’ and they didn’t. And that’s brutal,” he explained, adding previously that Barrera would be on the right side of history.

Lillard then went on to note that, upon returning to the franchise, he was criticized. “And then I went back to do Scream, and I got called out,” he told the crowd. “And I was like, ‘Oh f***, that’s brutal.’ I feel bad about that, I feel shame about that. Because in that moment, I was so excited to got back, I didn’t really think about Melissa and the journey, and I didn’t say ‘no.’ I’m embarrassed, and that’s the truth.” Hindsight is 20/20, and Lillard refusing to do the movie would have been huge, but I appreciate that he’s at least admitting he made a mistake.

I can’t even act like I have any high ground, as I used my A-List account to go see that movie like lots of other people, and was treated with a bad time at the movies for my efforts. You’d hope people would make the right decision right away, but that doesn’t always happen. But hearing Lillard reflect like this is important, and hopefully it will make more people do the same.