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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This new chapter marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a character you played in your twenties when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he got the news from the original writer.

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

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the decades since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now represented in every single Scream mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the film will be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by classic horror movies, also exists.

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