Ghostface Original 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 next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a character you played in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's 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 truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

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