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 preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

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

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though dying in prior movies. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.

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

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's 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 going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow still living in a strange shared scenario. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by classic genre films, also exists.

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