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

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 marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

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

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from past 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 endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he got the news from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the small talk. I remember him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "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 was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now represented in every single Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I don't know 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 idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way still living in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also exists.

Audiences will find out the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.