Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This new chapter signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first occasion since a small cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he received the news from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, 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 each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting 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 fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people come out 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 series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by classic genre films, also exists.

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