Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard 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 major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the legendary comeback 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 aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a small appearance is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now represented in every single Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of 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 ruin the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a self-referential story, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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