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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a brief appearance is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the original writer.

"I recall the conversation. I remember the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That instance 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 very nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now represented in every single Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"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 movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people come out 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 don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a strange shared scenario. The chance of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

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