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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl 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 returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Characters

It has been established that three different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a small cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he got the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now embodied 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 confesses to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state 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 mess up the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

Audiences will discover the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.