Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Series with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel 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 iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite 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 admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that three distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he got the news from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "So 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 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, 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 Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange communal situation. The possibility of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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