Ghostface OG Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Series with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is gearing up for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

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

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Characters

It has been established 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. Audiences should get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the series for the first time since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he got the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the small talk. I recall him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the original film premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in every single Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "At the start, I don't know if the film will be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've certainly 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 responsibility to not mess up the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While countless dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way still living in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by earlier horror movies, also exists.

Audiences will find out the truth when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.