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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he got the news from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

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

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange communal situation. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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