Ghostface OG Star the Actor Fears He Could Ruin the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. 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 reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

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

"I remember the phone call. I remember the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the years since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the beloved franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know 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 series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way still living in a strange shared scenario. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will find out the answer when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.