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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a character you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first occasion since a small cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "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 very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Scream 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 significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange communal scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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