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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the iconic 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 aren't the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back 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," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Fans should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small appearance is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he got the news from the original writer.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the years since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the beloved franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange communal scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

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