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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This new chapter marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that three distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a brief appearance is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the small talk. I recall him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my psyche," 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 was released, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular series.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the film will be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' 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.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way still living in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also exists.

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