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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, 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 played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he received the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

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

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled 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 are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way all alive in a strange communal scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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