Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying 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 director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he received the news from the series creator.

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

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the years since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

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

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

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

"The outcome is either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people are eager 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 mess up the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are in some way still living in a bizarre communal situation. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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