Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

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

"I recall the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the original film was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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