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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This new chapter marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

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

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

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

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely 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 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.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are in some way still living in a strange communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also exists.

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