Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Series with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though dying in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a small appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. 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 recall him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he states. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the franchise. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

Moviegoers will find out the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.