Scream OG Star the Actor Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This new chapter marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. 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.

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

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the small talk. I recall him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

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

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre communal scenario. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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