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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a small appearance is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the small talk. I remember him asking. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

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

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe 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 scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by classic genre films, also exists.

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