Scream OG Star the Actor Fears 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 preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a small cameo is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he received the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm really proud 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 embodied in every single Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of 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 responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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