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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

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

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he got the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the small talk. I remember him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state 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 ruin the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While countless 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, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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