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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This new chapter marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

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

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Characters

It has been established that three distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, even though dying in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he got the news from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the small talk. I remember him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

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

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

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen enough 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 ruin the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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