Scream OG Star the Actor Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"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 reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the news from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now represented in each and every Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also exists.

Audiences will find out the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.