Scream Original Star the Actor Fears He Could Spoil the Series with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

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

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a small appearance is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the news from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the small talk. I recall him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he states. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now embodied 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 final product. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly 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 responsibility to not ruin the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are somehow still living in a strange shared situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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