Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Series with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback 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 aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first occasion since a small cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he got the news from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

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