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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a small cameo is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the precise instant he received the offer from the original writer.

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

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production 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 series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility 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 reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier genre films, also exists.

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