Scream OG Star the Actor Fears He Could Ruin 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 major family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Characters

It has been established that three distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a small appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he got the news from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "So 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.

"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 October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea 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 going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, 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. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are in some way still living in a strange shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also exists.

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