Scream Original Star the Actor Fears He Could Ruin the Series with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. 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 character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though dying in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he got the offer from the original writer.

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

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the decades since the original film was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular series.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the film will be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a strange shared situation. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by classic horror movies, also exists.

Audiences will find out the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.