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 next year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This new chapter signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist 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 franchise for the first time since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the original film was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

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 significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will gonna work. 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 returning to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal scenario. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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