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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, 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 character you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

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 public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "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 original film was released, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now represented in each and every Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow still living in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by classic genre films, also exists.

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