Ghostface OG Star the Actor Fears He Could Spoil 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 massive family reunion. This new chapter marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, 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 character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Characters

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he received the news from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored 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 quite trepidatious.

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

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense anxiety 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 enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, 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 come back remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow still living in a strange communal situation. The chance of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

Audiences will find out the answer when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.