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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment signals the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he got the news from the original writer.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he states. "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.

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

The Anxiety of Disappointing 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 anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the film will be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While many dedicated 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 prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by classic horror movies, also exists.

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