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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. 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.

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

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director 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 brief appearance is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he received the news from the series creator.

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

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning 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 sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange communal scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror story, inspired by classic horror movies, also exists.

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