Ghostface OG 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 family reunion. This new chapter signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties 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 past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

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

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a strange shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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