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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now represented in each and every Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down 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 not wanting to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation 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. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way all alive in a strange shared situation. The chance of a self-referential story, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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