Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated 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 signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a small appearance is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he got the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

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

"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 film will be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' 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 reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question 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, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by classic horror movies, also exists.

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