Scream OG Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Series with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a brief appearance is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he received the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That instance 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 cult status in the years since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough 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 responsibility to not mess up the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow still living in a bizarre communal scenario. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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