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

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 latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a character you played in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism 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 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he got the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the small talk. I remember him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored 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 made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal scenario. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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