Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Series with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated 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 new chapter signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a small cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the original writer.

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

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

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough 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 ruin the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While many longtime 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 consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange communal situation. The chance of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

Audiences will find out the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.