Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a small cameo is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he got the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I am unsure 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 trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up 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 many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange shared situation. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by classic genre films, also exists.

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