Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to 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 vividly recalls the exact moment he got the news from the series creator.

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

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

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

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of 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 pressure to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre communal scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also exists.

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