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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

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

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he got the news from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the small talk. I remember him asking. 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 achieved iconic status in the decades since the original film premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

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

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's be successful. 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 trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While countless dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are somehow still living in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a self-referential story, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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