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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This new chapter signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you played in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a small appearance is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the news from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the small talk. I remember him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he states. "So 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 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now represented in every single Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way still living in a strange communal situation. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic genre films, also is on the table.

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