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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This latest installment signals the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that three different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the small talk. I remember him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "So 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 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow still living in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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