Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This new chapter marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, 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 character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a small appearance is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he states. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

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

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular series.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of classic genre films, also exists.

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