Scream Original Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Series with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This latest installment signals the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved 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 gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he received the news from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"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 appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety 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 immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are somehow still living in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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