Scream Original Star the Actor Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback 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 won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Characters

It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the news from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will 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 going back to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a strange communal scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

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