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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This new chapter signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the series creator.

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

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the decades since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now embodied 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 immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "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 pressure 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.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are in some way still living in a bizarre communal scenario. The chance of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also exists.

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