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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This latest installment signals the iconic return 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 won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you portrayed 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 Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a small cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the news from the original writer.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the small talk. I recall him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

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

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

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen enough 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 franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic genre films, also is on the table.

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