Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite dying 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 officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer 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 series for the first occasion since a small cameo is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he received the news from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

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

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the film will be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the franchise. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way all alive in a strange communal situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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