Scream Original Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Series with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl 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 character you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the news from the original writer.

"I recall the conversation. I remember the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," 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 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow all alive in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic genre films, also is on the table.

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