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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This new chapter signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Characters

It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a small cameo is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the offer from the series creator.

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

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

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way still living in a bizarre communal scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by classic genre films, also is on the table.

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