Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin the Series with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a small appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

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

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people state 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 hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of classic genre films, also is on the table.

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