Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter 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," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer 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 franchise for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he states. "Therefore 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 was released, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, 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 ruins the popular franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier genre films, also exists.

Moviegoers will find out the truth when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.