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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, 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 portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified 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 small talk. I remember him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

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

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state 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 franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a strange shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also exists.

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