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

The highly anticipated 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 latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

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

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer 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 time since a small appearance is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he got the news from the original writer.

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

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," 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 production has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people come out 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 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 Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre communal scenario. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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