Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.

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

"Coming back to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a small appearance is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the decades since the original film was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," 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 certainly seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' 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 Excitement Abound

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow still living in a bizarre communal situation. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, inspired by classic genre films, also is on the table.

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