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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. 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.

"Returning to a character you played in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Characters

It has been established that three distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist 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 series for the first occasion since a small appearance is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he received the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "So 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 premiered, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

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

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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