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

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

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a small cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the small talk. I recall him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

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

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position 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 popular franchise.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," 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 definitely seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are in some way still living in a strange communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will discover the truth when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.