Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a small cameo is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he got the news from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted 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 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the beloved franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a strange communal situation. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also exists.

Audiences will discover the truth when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.