Ghostface OG Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel 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 return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, even though dying in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he got the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While countless dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are somehow still living in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of classic genre films, also exists.

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