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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

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

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans 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 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 dream come true, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the news from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen enough people state 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 series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a strange communal situation. The possibility of a self-referential story, reminiscent of classic genre films, also is on the table.

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