Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil 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 new chapter signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed 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 return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he received the news from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the small talk. I remember him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he states. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing 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 ruins the beloved series.

"It's either a hit 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 don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow all alive in a strange shared scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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