Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin the Franchise 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 latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position 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 beloved series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by classic genre films, also exists.

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