Ghostface Original Star the Actor 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 massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic 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 aren't the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small appearance is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That moment 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 achieved cult status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now represented in each and every Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility 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.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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