Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you played in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a small cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the series. I don't want 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 excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a strange shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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