Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. 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 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that three distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a small appearance is a long-held wish, though he is terrified 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 remember the small talk. I remember him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough 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 responsibility to not ruin the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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