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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a brief appearance is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the news from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he states. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people come out 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 ruin the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way still living in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror story, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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