Ghostface Original Star the Actor Fears He Could Ruin 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 new chapter signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety 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 miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people are eager 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 ruin the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange communal situation. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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