Scream OG Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed 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 precise method of their return is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member 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 cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While many 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 consciousness, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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