Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Series with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a small cameo is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he states. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

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

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

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

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," 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 going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a strange communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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