Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin 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 massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside 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 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's murderous duo, 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, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.

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

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the decades since the original film was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that appears 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 admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will be successful. 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 returning to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way still living in a strange shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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