Ghostface Original Star the Actor 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 preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the news from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the small talk. I recall him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

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

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now represented in every single Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," 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 definitely seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also exists.

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