Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Series with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series 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 series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I remember the small talk. I recall him asking. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the original film premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

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

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by classic genre films, also is on the table.

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