Scream OG Star the Actor Fears He Could Ruin the Series with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This latest installment signals the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

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

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"The outcome is either a hit 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 be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are in some way still living in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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