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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a small cameo is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he got the news from the original writer.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough 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 saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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