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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a major family reunion. This new chapter marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the previous film. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you played in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that a trio of distinct characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a brief cameo is a long-held wish, though he is terrified about the audience response. The actor clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my psyche," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

"Truthfully, that's a role that is infamous, like it or not," he explains. "A character that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has concluded, 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 franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's be successful. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the truth 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 was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While countless longtime fans are excited for Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way still living in a strange shared scenario. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by classic genre films, also is on the table.

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