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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This new chapter signals the iconic return 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 beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a small cameo is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he got the news from the original writer.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the original film premiered, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the film will be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely 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 series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are somehow all alive in a strange shared situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by earlier horror movies, also exists.

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