Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's murderous duo, 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 terrified about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "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 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now represented in each and every Scream mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"It's either a success and people are excited 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 want to see me. I've certainly 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 series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow still living in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

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