Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from 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 returning to the fray.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

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 audience response. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he got the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting 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 popular series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people come out 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 mess up the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are somehow all alive in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, inspired by classic genre films, also exists.

Audiences will find out the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.