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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a character you played 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

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he got the news from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the decades since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"The outcome is either a success 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 gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly 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 pressure to not mess up the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are somehow still living in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by classic genre films, also is on the table.

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