Ghostface OG Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. 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 character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a brief appearance is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the series creator.

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

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are in some way still living in a bizarre shared situation. The possibility of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also exists.

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