Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Series with Scream 7.

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 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 franchise for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he received the news from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people want 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 reality 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 sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by classic genre films, also exists.

Audiences will discover the answer when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.