Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that three distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a brief appearance is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he received the offer from the original writer.

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

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, 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 going back to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are in some way all alive in a strange shared scenario. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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