Ghostface OG 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 preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment signals 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 fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a small cameo is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the small talk. I remember him asking. That instance is permanently etched 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 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

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

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of 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 franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are in some way still living in a bizarre communal situation. The possibility of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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