Ghostface Original Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Ruin 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 gearing up for a major family reunion. This new chapter marks the legendary return of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from 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 role you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, despite dying in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he received the offer from the series creator.

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

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant pressure about hoping not to be the one who ruins the popular series.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the film will be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen enough 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 don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, similar to a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by classic genre films, also is on the table.

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