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

The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl 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.

"Returning to a role you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," the actor admits.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism 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 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight 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, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he got the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the small talk. I recall him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved iconic status in the years since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling very nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A part that is now represented in every single Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fandom

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved series.

"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people want 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 responsibility to not mess up the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Run High

While many longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are somehow still living in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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