Ghostface Original Star the Actor Fears He Could Spoil 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 massive family reunion. This latest installment marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a daunting task that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the news from the original writer.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the small talk. I recall him asking. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"It's either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of 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 mess up the franchise. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While many dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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