Ghostface OG Star the Actor Fears He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This new chapter signals the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though dying in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, 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 long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the small talk. I remember him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "So 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 premiered, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough 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 ruin the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are somehow all alive in a strange shared situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of classic genre films, also exists.

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