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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you played in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he got the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he states. "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 left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

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

The Anxiety 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 confesses to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way still living in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

Audiences will discover the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.