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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a brief appearance is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he received the news from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now represented in each and every Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant 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. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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