Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

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

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the news from the original writer.

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

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"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 are eager 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 truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange communal scenario. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

Audiences will find out the truth when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.