Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated 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 new chapter signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't 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 daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the small talk. I recall him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the decades since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now represented in every single Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While countless dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also exists.

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