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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This new chapter marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

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

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a small cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the decades since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now represented in every single Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"It's 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 don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning 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 saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a self-referential story, reminiscent of classic genre films, also exists.

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