Ghostface OG Star the Actor Fears He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This new chapter marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the small talk. I remember him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "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 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now represented in every single Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins 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 film will be successful. 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 going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a strange shared scenario. The chance of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of classic genre films, also is on the table.

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