Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Series with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier 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 get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the small talk. I recall him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved 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 part that is now represented in each and every Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal scenario. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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