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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small cameo is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the news from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. 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 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the film will be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state 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 franchise. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange shared situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

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