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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This new chapter signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance 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 Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the original writer.

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

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the original film premiered, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now represented in each and every Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the beloved 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 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 going back to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange communal situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, reminiscent of classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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