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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This new chapter signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

It has been established that three distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a brief cameo is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the news from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state 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 mess up the franchise. I don't want people exiting 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 big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are in some way still living in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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