Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin the Series with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor 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.

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

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he got the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "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 original film was released, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

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

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

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

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people are eager 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 truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic genre films, also exists.

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