Scream OG Star the Actor Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a small cameo is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he received the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

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

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough 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 ruin the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange communal scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror story, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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