Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This new chapter marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

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

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that three different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half 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 cameo is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

"The reality is, 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 production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are in some way all alive in a strange communal situation. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, inspired by earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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