Scream Original Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor 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 fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a brief appearance is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he received the news from the series creator.

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

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense pressure 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 fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen enough 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 mess up the franchise. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The possibility of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also exists.

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