Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Series with Scream 7.

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut 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, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Characters

It has been established that three different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a small appearance is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he received the news from the original writer.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the small talk. I remember him posing the question. 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 attained cult status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling very nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely 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 pressure to not ruin the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, reminiscent of classic genre films, also is on the table.

Audiences will find out the answer when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.