Scream Original Star the Actor Fears He Could Spoil 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 preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method 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 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he got the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "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 original film was released, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

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

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure 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 reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange communal scenario. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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