Ghostface Original Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Series with the Seventh Installment.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't 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," the actor admits.

A Triumphant Return for Fallen Characters

It has been established that three distinct characters from earlier films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in prior movies. The precise method of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a dream come true, though he is terrified about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he received the news from the series creator.

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

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which made Lillard feeling very trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this trope?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not mess up the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Run High

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The possibility of a self-referential story, reminiscent of earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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