Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment signals the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half 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 long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he got the news from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. 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 attained iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant 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 don't know if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the franchise. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are in some way still living in a bizarre shared situation. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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