Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Series with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he got the news from the original writer.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "So 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 very nervous.

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

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses 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. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

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 remains. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a strange shared scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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