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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a character you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer 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 franchise for the first occasion since a small cameo is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he got the news from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "So 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 very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit 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 plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will find out the answer when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.