Scream Original Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited 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 legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he got the news from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him asking. 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 years since the original film was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

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

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will 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 idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way still living in a strange shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also exists.

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