Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter 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 Comeback for Fallon Characters

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a small cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he received the news from the original writer.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored 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 very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of 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 mess up the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow still living in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by classic genre films, also is on the table.

Audiences will discover the truth when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.