Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil 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 gearing up for a major family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary 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 daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though dying in prior movies. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the conversation. I remember the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the original film was released, 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 every single Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"It's 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 movie's be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by classic horror movies, also exists.

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