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

The highly anticipated 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 iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a character you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Characters

It has been established that three distinct characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow still living in a bizarre shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will discover the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.