Ghostface Original Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This new chapter marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Characters

It has been established that three different characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a small cameo is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state 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 leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange communal scenario. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will discover the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.