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 gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the legendary 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 aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Characters

It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a brief appearance is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

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

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly 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 responsibility to not mess up the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal scenario. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by classic horror movies, also exists.

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