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 massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

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

"I recall the conversation. I recall the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

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

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people state 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 series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are in some way still living in a strange shared scenario. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

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