Ghostface OG Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Series with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

It has been established that three different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he got the news from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

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

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now represented in each and every Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely 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 responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are in some way still living in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also exists.

Moviegoers will discover the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.