Ghostface OG Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This new chapter marks the iconic 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 reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back 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

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the small talk. I recall him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"The outcome is 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 am unsure 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 pressure to not mess up the franchise. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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