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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

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

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small appearance is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the news from the original writer.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the film will be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While countless dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way still living in a strange communal scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, reminiscent of classic genre films, also exists.

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