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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This new chapter marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor 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.

"Coming back to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that three distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the return of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he received the news from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A character that is now embodied in every single Ghostface mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

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

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people state 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 franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way still living in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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