Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Franchise 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 legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

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

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he got the news from the series creator.

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

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the original film premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"The outcome is 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 movie's gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely 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 ruin the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While countless dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are somehow all alive in a strange communal scenario. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by classic genre films, also exists.

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