Scream OG Star the Actor Fears He Could Ruin the Series with Scream 7.

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by 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 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

It has been established that three distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a small appearance is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he got the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he states. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I don't know 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 truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way still living in a strange communal scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by classic horror movies, also exists.

Audiences will find out the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.