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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a brief appearance is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That moment 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 years since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a hit 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 be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also exists.

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