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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he states. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

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

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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