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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This new chapter marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small appearance is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he got the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now represented in each and every Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

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

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely 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 pressure to not ruin the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange communal scenario. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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