Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Series with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he got the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

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

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"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 don't know if the film will gonna work. 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 going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by classic horror movies, also exists.

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