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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This new chapter marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that three different characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he received the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the small talk. I remember him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will 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 returning to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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