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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This new chapter marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

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

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a small cameo is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.

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

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the decades since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now represented in every single Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting 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 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 certainly seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror story, inspired by classic horror movies, also exists.

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