Ghostface Original Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Series with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the legendary comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, as usual, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters returning to the fray.

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

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Favorites

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 return remains a mystery. Fans should prepare for the return of the beloved and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the original murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a small cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he received the offer from the original writer.

"I recall the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That instance is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

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

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position like the rest of us to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's be successful. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people come out 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 franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Anticipation Abound

While countless dedicated fans are excited for Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's mind, like a prior storyline. Or, maybe they are in some way still living in a bizarre shared scenario. The possibility of a self-referential story, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

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