Ghostface Original Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Series with Scream 7.

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a small cameo is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he got the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the small talk. I recall him asking. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"It's 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 film will gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange communal scenario. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by classic horror movies, also exists.

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