Ghostface Original Star the Actor Fears He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back 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 Return for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a small appearance is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he received the news from the series creator.

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

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

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely 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 responsibility to not mess up the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will find out the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.