Ghostface Original Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl 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 fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Characters

It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a small cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the news from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now represented in every single Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular series.

"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 enough 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 pressure to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are somehow still living in a bizarre communal situation. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic genre films, also is on the table.

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