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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl 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.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though dying in prior movies. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a small appearance is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "So 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 left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are in some way still living in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror story, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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