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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, even though dying in previous installments. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer 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 time since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the news from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the original film premiered, which left Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state 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 saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way still living in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also exists.

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