Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Series with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a role you played in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Characters

It has been established that three different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise 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 vividly recalls the precise instant he received the news from the original writer.

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

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of 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 pressure to not ruin the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way still living in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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