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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

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

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, even though dying in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a small cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he received the news from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That moment 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 decades since the original film was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

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

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved franchise.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state 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 mess up the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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