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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This new chapter signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. 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.

"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," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a brief appearance is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the small talk. I recall him asking. That instance 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 achieved cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, 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 Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

Audiences will discover the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.