Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This new chapter signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the news from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the decades since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit 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 gonna work. 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 trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by classic genre films, also exists.

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