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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that three distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he got the news from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he states. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

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

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved franchise.

"It's either a hit 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 want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of 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 responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow all alive in a strange communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by earlier genre films, also exists.

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