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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl 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 making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you played in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

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

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down 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 anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will be successful. I am unsure if people are eager 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 truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While countless dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way still living in a strange communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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