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

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 family reunion. This new chapter signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor 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 making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

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

"I remember the phone call. I remember the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the years since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

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

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

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

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way still living in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

Audiences will find out the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.