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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director 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 series for the first time since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the series creator.

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

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

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

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen enough 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 responsibility to not ruin the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are somehow still living in a strange shared scenario. The chance of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

Audiences will discover the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.