Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Franchise 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 family reunion. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," 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 meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he received the news from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the small talk. I recall him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

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

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure 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 idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow still living in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic genre films, also is on the table.

Audiences will discover the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.