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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This new chapter signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

"Coming back to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, even though dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first occasion since a small appearance is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the news from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the years since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a hit 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 gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a strange communal scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will discover the truth when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.