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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the small talk. I remember him asking. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he states. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are somehow all alive in a strange communal situation. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, inspired by earlier genre films, also exists.

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