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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut 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 final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. 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.

"Returning to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a small appearance is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"The outcome is 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 film will be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre communal scenario. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by earlier horror movies, also exists.

Moviegoers will find out the answer when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.