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

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major gathering of familiar faces. This latest installment signals the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only beloved characters making a comeback.

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

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallen Favorites

It has been established that three different characters from past films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, despite dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and nearly unkillable officer Dewey Riley, the director and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first occasion since a brief appearance is a long-held wish, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he received the news from the original writer.

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

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the years since the original film premiered, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he explains. "A character that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Anxiety of Letting Down the Fans

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

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will gonna work. I don't know if people are eager 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 don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Speculation and Anticipation Abound

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's reappearance, the central mystery of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are in some way still living in a bizarre communal situation. The chance of a self-referential narrative, inspired by earlier horror movies, also is on the table.

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