Scream Original Star the Actor Fears He Could Spoil the Series with Scream 7.

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you played in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the original writer.

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

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the years since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the beloved franchise.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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