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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a character you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a small cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A part 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 production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While countless dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way still living in a bizarre shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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