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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This new chapter marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the offer from the original writer.

"I recall 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 cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

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

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are somehow still living in a strange shared scenario. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will discover the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.