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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This new chapter marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. 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 portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.

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

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the years since the original film premiered, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins 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 be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way still living in a bizarre communal situation. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also exists.

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