Ghostface Original Star the Actor Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel 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 marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. 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 filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he got the news from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by classic genre films, also is on the table.

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