Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Series with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing 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 joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be 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 daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small appearance is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he got the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he states. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the beloved franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are thrilled 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 definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question 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 still living in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by earlier genre films, also exists.

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