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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing 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, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter 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 in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Characters

It has been established that three different characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a small appearance is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he got the news from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I remember 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 years since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "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 wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"The outcome is 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 are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way all alive in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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