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 next year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This new chapter marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from 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 returning to the fray.

"Returning 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 Fallen Favorites

It has been established that three distinct characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a small cameo is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he received the news from the series creator.

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

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the years since the original film was released, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager 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 truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre communal scenario. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic genre films, also is on the table.

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