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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he got the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the film will be successful. 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 returning to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of classic genre films, also is on the table.

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