Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Series with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a small appearance is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the small talk. I recall him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

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

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure 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 idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way still living in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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