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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a small appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

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

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow all alive in a strange communal scenario. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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