Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.

The long-awaited horror film 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 signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be joined by 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 twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Characters

It has been established that three different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a brief appearance is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he got the news from the original writer.

"I recall the conversation. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will be successful. I am unsure 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 responsibility to not ruin the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

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