Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Series with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a small cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the original writer.

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

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling very nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough 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 mess up the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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