Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a small cameo is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he received the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now represented in every single Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular series.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager 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 pressure to not ruin the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, inspired by classic horror movies, also exists.

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