Scream Original Star the Actor Fears He Could Spoil the Series with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the iconic comeback 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 beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon 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 is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a brief cameo is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will gonna work. 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 responsibility to not mess up the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, inspired by classic horror movies, also exists.

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