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

The long-awaited horror film Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This new chapter marks the legendary return 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 won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

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

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The precise method of their return is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

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 terrified about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he got the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the small talk. I remember him asking. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

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

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now represented in every single Scream mask that walks around every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant pressure 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 am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Or, maybe they are in some way all alive in a strange shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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