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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the iconic 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 won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the small talk. I recall him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the years since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

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

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the film will be successful. 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 returning to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are in some way still living in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by classic genre films, also exists.

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