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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility 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 Abound

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a self-referential story, reminiscent of classic genre films, also exists.

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