Ghostface OG Star the Actor Fears He Could Ruin 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 new chapter marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that three different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a small appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he got the news from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him asking. 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 iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling very nervous.

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

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I don't know 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 mess up the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a strange shared scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror story, inspired by earlier genre films, also exists.

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