Scream OG Star the Actor Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite dying in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the news from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the small talk. I recall him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

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

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

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, 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 trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal scenario. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier genre films, also exists.

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