Ghostface OG Star the Actor Fears He Could Spoil 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 gearing up for a major family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a small cameo is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the news from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses 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 excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I don't know if people want 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 reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are in some way still living in a bizarre communal scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

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