Scream OG Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Series with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning 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.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though dying in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he received the offer from the series creator.

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

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

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

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

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people are eager 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 pressure to not mess up the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way still living in a strange communal scenario. The chance of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

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