Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise 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 marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a character you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard admits.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that three distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though dying in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the original writer.

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

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now represented in each and every Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not 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 points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way still living in a strange shared scenario. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will find out the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.