Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin the Series with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

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 exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a small appearance is a long-held wish, even if 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 conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "So 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 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling very nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about not wanting 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 movie's 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 reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also exists.

Audiences will find out the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.