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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

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

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Fans should get ready 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 first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he states. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of 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 responsibility to not mess up the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are somehow still living in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will find out the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.