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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, 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 mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a small cameo is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he got the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people want 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 mess up the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are in some way still living in a strange communal scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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