Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Series with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This new chapter marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside 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 portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Characters

It has been established that three distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first occasion since a small cameo is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he got the news from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the small talk. I remember him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

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

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular series.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror story, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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