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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"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," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he got the news from the original writer.

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

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the original film was released, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange communal situation. The chance of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

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