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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"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.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a small appearance is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he received the news from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular series.

"It's 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 am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of 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 hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a strange shared scenario. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by earlier horror movies, also exists.

Audiences will find out the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.