Ghostface Original Star the Actor Fears He Could Ruin the Series with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated 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 signals the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, 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 mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer 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 cameo is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "So 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 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people want 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 truth 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 reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange communal situation. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

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