Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Series with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

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

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the decades since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

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

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people state 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 thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange shared scenario. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier genre films, also exists.

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