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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

It has been established that three distinct characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first occasion since a small appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the series creator.

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

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people want 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 truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will discover the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.