Ghostface OG Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Series with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment signals the iconic 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 won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

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

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though dying in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a small cameo is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

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

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people state 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 ruin the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by classic genre films, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will discover the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.