Ghostface Original Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying in prior movies. 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 Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That moment 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 attained iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

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

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I don't know 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 trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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