Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This new chapter marks the legendary comeback 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 making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the news from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the small talk. I recall him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling very nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now represented in every single Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the beloved franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. 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 going back to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange communal scenario. The chance of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will find out the truth when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.