Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Series with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the legendary 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 character you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him asking. 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 cult status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I don't know 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 truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While countless dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way still living in a strange communal situation. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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