Scream OG Star the Actor Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a small appearance is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the news from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That moment 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 attained cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now represented in each and every Scream mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are in some way still living in a bizarre communal scenario. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by classic horror movies, also exists.

Audiences will discover the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.