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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a brief appearance is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he received the news from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "So 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 was released, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

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

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

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

"It's 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 movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow all alive in a strange shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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