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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop 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, returning to the franchise for the first time since a small appearance is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That moment is permanently etched 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 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough 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 responsibility to not mess up the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are in some way all alive in a strange communal scenario. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also exists.

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