Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This new chapter signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite 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," the actor admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Characters

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though dying in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a small appearance is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he received the news from the series creator.

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

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now represented 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 like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people come out 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 ruin the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While countless dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow still living in a strange shared scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic genre films, also exists.

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