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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the news from the original writer.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part 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 Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. 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 truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal scenario. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also exists.

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