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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. 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 character you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the original writer.

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

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the original film was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

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 mind, similar to a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror story, inspired by classic genre films, also exists.

Moviegoers will discover the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.