Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Series with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This new chapter signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

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

"I remember the conversation. I recall the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "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 certainly seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange communal situation. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, inspired by earlier horror movies, also exists.

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