Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a character you played in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he received the news from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. 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 attained cult status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the film will be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people come out 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 exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will find out the truth when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.