Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Series with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Characters

It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he received the news from the original writer.

"I recall the conversation. 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 attained iconic status in the years since the original film premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now represented in every single Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people are eager 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 series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While countless dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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