Ghostface Original Star the Actor Fears He Could Spoil the Series with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a character you played in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a small cameo is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the exact moment he received the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

"Truthfully, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the series. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a meta-horror story, inspired by classic horror movies, also exists.

Audiences will discover the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.