Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Series with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small appearance is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he got the news from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the small talk. I recall him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now represented in every single Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of classic genre films, also exists.

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