Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Series with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a small cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he received the news from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted 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 years since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange shared scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will find out the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.