Ghostface Original Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out 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.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that three distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a small appearance is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he got the offer 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 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 original film premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now represented in each and every Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the franchise. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While countless dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by earlier genre films, also exists.

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