Ghostface OG Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Ruin 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 new chapter marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside 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 twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that three distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a small appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he got the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the small talk. I remember him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the original film premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by classic horror movies, also exists.

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