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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

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

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a small appearance is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he received the news from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the small talk. I recall him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now represented in every single Scream mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure 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 idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are in some way still living in a strange communal situation. The chance of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

Audiences will find out the answer when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.