Ghostface Original 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 next year, and it is gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite 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 reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, 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, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he got the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the years since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

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

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "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 trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are somehow still living in a bizarre shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also exists.

Moviegoers will discover the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.