Ghostface OG Star the Actor Fears He Could Ruin the Series with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Characters

It has been established that three distinct characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though dying in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a small cameo is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That instance 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 iconic status in the decades since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now represented in every single Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of 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 pressure to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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