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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he received the news from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the years since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure 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 trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility 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 reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are somehow still living in a bizarre communal scenario. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

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