Ghostface Original Star the Actor Fears He Could Spoil 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 preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I don't know 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 trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are somehow still living in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by earlier genre films, also exists.

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