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

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 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 joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

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

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a small cameo is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he received the news from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

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

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state 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 ruin the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange communal situation. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic genre films, also is on the table.

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