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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I remember the small talk. I remember 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 achieved cult status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A part that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow still living in a bizarre communal scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

Audiences will find out the truth when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.