Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Characters

It has been established that three different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a small cameo is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the news from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

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

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will discover the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.