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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

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

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite dying in prior movies. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small appearance is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the news from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the small talk. I remember him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the decades since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

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

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are somehow still living in a strange shared situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by classic genre films, also is on the table.

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