Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil 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 major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that three different characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a small appearance is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he got the news from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are somehow still living in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier genre films, also exists.

Moviegoers will discover the answer when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.