Ghostface Original Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Series with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment 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 journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

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

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, even though dying in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences 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 Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a small cameo is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the years since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not 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 miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will be successful. 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 franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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