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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This new chapter marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. 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 twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight 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 apprehensive about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he received the news from the original writer.

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

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are somehow still living in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by earlier genre films, also exists.

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