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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, as usual, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only fan-favorite characters returning to the fray.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your twenties when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Return for Fallen Characters

Reports have confirmed that three different characters from past films are set to return in this new outing, even though dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should prepare for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the series for the first time since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The performer vividly recalls the precise instant he got the offer from the series creator.

"I remember the conversation. I remember the small talk. I remember him posing the question. That moment is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained cult status in the years since the original film was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, like it or not," he notes. "A character that is now represented in each and every Scream mask that appears every Halloween."

The Anxiety of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling significant pressure about not wanting to be the one who ruins the popular franchise.

"It's either a success 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 don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not ruin the franchise. I hope people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Theories and Anticipation Run High

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a bizarre shared situation. The possibility of a meta-horror story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

Moviegoers will discover the truth when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.