Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin the Franchise with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated 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 legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not 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 be successful. I don't know if people are eager 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 reality 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 reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also exists.

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