Scream OG Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a small cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the original writer.

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

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, 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. Or, maybe they are in some way all alive in a strange communal scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by classic horror movies, also exists.

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