Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he received the news from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the small talk. I remember him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now represented in every single Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, 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 damages the beloved franchise.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," 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 state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way still living in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also exists.

Audiences will find out the answer when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.