Ghostface OG Star the Actor Fears He Could Spoil 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 gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I recall the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

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

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

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

"It's 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 movie's be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I hope people leaving 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 return persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal scenario. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

Audiences will discover the answer when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.