Ghostface OG Star the Actor Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Characters

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear 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 endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a small appearance is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the news from the original writer.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That moment 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 achieved cult status in the decades since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of classic genre films, also is on the table.

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