Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard admits.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the original writer.

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

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

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

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting 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 miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the franchise. 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 countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow still living in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a meta-horror narrative, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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