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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a character you played in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that three distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a small appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he got the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the small talk. I recall him asking. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now represented in every single Scream mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow still living in a strange shared situation. The chance of a self-referential story, reminiscent of classic genre films, also exists.

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