Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Series with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out 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.

"Coming back to a role you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Characters

It has been established that three distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a small appearance is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he got the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the conversation. I remember the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the years 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 represented in each and every Scream mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know 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 going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow still living in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by earlier genre films, also exists.

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