Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Series with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This latest installment signals 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 returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you played in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a small appearance is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the news from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That moment 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 achieved iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now represented in every single Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly 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 pressure to not mess up the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a strange shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic genre films, also exists.

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