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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic 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 reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your twenties 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 different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original 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, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the small talk. I recall him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now represented in every single Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"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 movie's gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of 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 pressure to not ruin the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are somehow still living in a strange communal situation. The possibility of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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