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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This new chapter 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 journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

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

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though dying in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the series creator.

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

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the decades since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will find out the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.