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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This latest installment signals the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small cameo is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he received the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched 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 decades since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

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

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely 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 pressure 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 countless dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow all alive in a strange shared scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror story, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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