Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a small cameo is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he received the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the small talk. I remember him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now represented in every single Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved 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 am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the franchise. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow still living in a bizarre communal situation. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, inspired by earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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