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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl 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 beloved characters returning to the fray.

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

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he states. "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 original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning 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 sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of classic genre films, also exists.

Moviegoers will discover the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.