Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This new chapter marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though dying in previous installments. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer 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 mind," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now represented in each and every Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the truth 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.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange communal scenario. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by earlier genre films, also exists.

Moviegoers will discover the truth when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.