Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Series with Scream 7.

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming 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 last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by 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 daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Favorites

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 previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should get ready for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a small appearance is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the original writer.

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

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are in some way still living in a strange communal situation. The possibility of a self-referential story, reminiscent of classic genre films, also is on the table.

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