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

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from 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 role you played in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the beloved and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film 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 cameo is a dream come true, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he got the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the small talk. I remember him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "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 premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he notes. "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 concluded, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular series.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will be successful. I don't know if people are eager 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 franchise. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Abound

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back remains. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow still living in a strange communal situation. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier genre films, also is on the table.

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