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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be 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 daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he received the news from the series creator.

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

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the original film was released, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've certainly 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 responsibility to not ruin the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will find out the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.