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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you played in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half 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 brief cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he got the news from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," 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 decades since the 1996 movie premiered, 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 appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow still living in a bizarre communal scenario. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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