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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Characters

It has been established that three distinct characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a small cameo is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he got the news from the original writer.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the original film premiered, which left Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular 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 state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The possibility of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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