Ghostface OG Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Series with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, 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 twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he got the news from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," 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 decades since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit 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 be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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