Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "Therefore 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 original film premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now represented in every single Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way all alive in a strange shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by classic genre films, also exists.

Audiences will discover the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.