Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that three different characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

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

"I remember the conversation. I recall the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

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 significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled 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 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 going back to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also exists.

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