Scream Original Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Series with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This new chapter marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

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

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a small cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the news from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense anxiety 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 have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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