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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This new chapter signals the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, 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 portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that three different characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop 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 Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a small appearance is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the series creator.

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

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. 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 truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by classic genre films, also is on the table.

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