Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin 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 massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a role you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he got the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "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 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state 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 series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow still living in a strange shared scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror story, inspired by earlier genre films, also exists.

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