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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing 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 last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, even though dying in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's 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 going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way still living in a strange shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

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