Scream Original Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Series with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning 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 admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Characters

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

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the news from the series creator.

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

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"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 Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular series.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people state 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 series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are somehow still living in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by classic genre films, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will discover the truth when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.