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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl 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 making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he got the news from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the small talk. I remember him asking. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular series.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's be successful. 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 trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow still living in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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