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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that three distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable 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 Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he got the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he states. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the years since the original film premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's 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 returning to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror story, inspired by classic genre films, also is on the table.

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