Scream Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a small appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

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

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will 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 idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are in some way all alive in a strange communal scenario. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by classic genre films, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will discover the truth when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.