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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. 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 role you played in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the franchise. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic genre films, also exists.

Audiences will find out the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.