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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This new chapter marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a small appearance is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he received the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I remember the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That instance 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 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. 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 going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While countless 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 prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow still living in a bizarre communal scenario. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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