Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin 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 gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter 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 in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Characters

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a brief appearance is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he received the news from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the original film premiered, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"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 movie's be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way all alive in a strange communal situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by earlier genre films, also exists.

Audiences will discover the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.