Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin the Series with Scream 7.

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. 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 character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a small cameo is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

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

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

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

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

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of 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 franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by classic genre films, also exists.

Moviegoers will discover the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.