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 next year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a small appearance is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he states. "So 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 made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

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

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are in some way still living in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by classic genre films, also is on the table.

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