Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This new chapter marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside 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 mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a small cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the original film was released, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

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

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

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 immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While countless longtime 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 somehow all alive in a strange communal situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by classic genre films, also is on the table.

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