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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This new chapter signals the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. 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.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he got the news from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the small talk. I recall him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the years since the original film premiered, which left Lillard feeling very nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now represented in each and every Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the film will be successful. I am unsure 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 reality 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 was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow still living in a strange shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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