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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This new chapter signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

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

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a small appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he got the news from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the small talk. I recall 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 attained cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

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

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way still living in a strange communal scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror story, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will discover the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.