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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major 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, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back 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 admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the decades since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out 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 mess up the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange communal situation. The possibility of a meta-horror story, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will find out the answer when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.