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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that three different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small appearance is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he received the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I remember the small talk. I remember him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "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 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

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

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange communal situation. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also exists.

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