Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise 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 massive family reunion. This new chapter marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

It has been established that three different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a small appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the series creator.

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

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

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery 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 all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier genre films, also exists.

Audiences will find out the truth when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.