Scream OG 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 next year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the iconic comeback 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 journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, even though dying in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a small cameo is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he received the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, 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 confesses to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular series.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "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 plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I don't want 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 reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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