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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that three 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. Audiences should prepare for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a small 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 series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

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

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now represented in every single Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not 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. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough 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 don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are somehow all alive in a strange shared scenario. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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