Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved 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 Comeback for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct 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 resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small appearance is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the news from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

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

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough 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 mess up the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange communal situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by classic genre films, also exists.

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