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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a small cameo is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant 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 mind," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the original film premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not 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 observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange shared scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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