Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Series with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. 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 portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying in prior movies. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer 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 Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the news from the original writer.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the small talk. I remember him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he states. "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 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now represented in every single Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

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 hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough people come out 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 don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier genre films, also exists.

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