Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a character you played in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method 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 third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half 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 brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he got the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I remember 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 attained iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down 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 significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular series.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. 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 idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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