Ghostface Original Star the Actor Fears He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This new chapter signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a small appearance is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the news from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the small talk. I remember him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the decades since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now represented in each and every Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

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

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've certainly 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 responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange shared scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will find out the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.