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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This new chapter signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a small appearance is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the small talk. I remember him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the years since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"It's either a success 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 am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning 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 reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

Audiences will discover the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.