Ghostface OG Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Ruin 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 iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl 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 fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

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

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, even though dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.

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

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the film will be successful. 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 reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are in some way still living in a strange communal scenario. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

Audiences will discover the truth when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.