Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin the Series with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This latest installment signals 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 fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he got the offer from the original writer.

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

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the original film premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely 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 mess up the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by earlier horror movies, also exists.

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