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

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 new chapter marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, 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 twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though dying in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the small talk. I remember him posing the question. 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 was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around 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 final product. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out 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 franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also exists.

Audiences will discover the answer when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.