Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Series with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Favorites

Reports have confirmed 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 return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my mind," he states. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now represented in every single Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the popular franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "At the start, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a strange communal scenario. The chance of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also exists.

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