Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you played in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a challenge that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

A Triumphant Return for Fallon Favorites

Reports have confirmed that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite meeting their demise in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their return is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the original killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first time since a small appearance is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the exact moment he received the offer from the series creator.

"I recall the conversation. I recall the small talk. I remember him asking. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "Therefore I'm really proud to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

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

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

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that filming has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He admits to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved series.

"The outcome is either a hit and people are excited to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the movie's gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people come out and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I don't want people leaving Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Maybe they exist rent-free in Sidney's mind, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are somehow still living in a strange shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror story, reminiscent of earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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