Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he got the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the small talk. I recall him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he states. "Therefore 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 premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know 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 returning to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow still living in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by classic genre films, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will discover the truth when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.