Ghostface Original Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the legendary comeback 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 reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you played in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Characters

It has been established that three distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the small talk. I remember him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the years since the original film premiered, which left Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now represented in each and every Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning 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 exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are in some way still living in a strange communal scenario. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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