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 next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by 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 twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Legacy

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

"I remember the conversation. I recall the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "So 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 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the film will be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state 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 ruin the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are somehow all alive in a strange shared situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also exists.

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