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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three 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. Fans should get ready for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the original writer.

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

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, 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 Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state 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 mess up the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a strange shared situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by earlier horror movies, also exists.

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