Matthew Lillard Ended A 15-Year Career Streak For Prime Video’s Returning Adaptation Of Bestselling Thriller Novels

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Matthew Lillard is ending a 15-year pattern with his role in season 2 of Cross. The Prime Video series is based on the bestselling Alex Cross novels by James Patterson, and stars Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross. Lillard will play Lance Durand, a billionaire, in the new season.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly about the second season, the show’s creator, Ben Watkins, shared that Bill Skarsgård actually had to audition for the role of Lance, despite not having auditioned for anything in 15 years. Watkins also highlighted Skarsgård’s impressive acting skills and the genuine emotion he brings to every character he plays. Here’s what the showrunner had to say:

I asked Matthew to audition, and he was surprised, saying he hadn’t read anything in fifteen years.

While he’s known for comedic and over-the-top roles, he’s actually a very versatile actor. I think this is because he’s deeply engaged with life – he genuinely loves and observes people, and he’s truly dedicated to his work.

Joining Damian Lillard in season 2 of Cross is Jeanine Mason, playing a driven judge named Rebecca. Alex Cross and Kayla Craig (Alona Tal) will be investigating a case connected to Lillard’s character, pictured below.

Image via EW

These comments from Watkins follow director Quentin Tarantino’s recent statement that he dislikes actor Matthew Lillard, which came after similar criticism of Paul Dano and Owen Wilson. Lillard acknowledged the criticism was painful, but many in the entertainment industry have rallied to his support, including James Gunn, who previously directed Lillard in the Scooby-Doo films.

Despite Quentin Tarantino’s recent comments, actor Bill Lillard is enjoying a successful period in his career. He recently starred in the movie adaptation of Stephen King’s The Life of Chuck, directed by Mike Flanagan, which was a hit with both critics and audiences. The film even won the People’s Choice Award at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, and Lillard has several other exciting projects already lined up.

I’m so excited to see Damian Lillard killing it in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2! The movie’s been a huge success, and I’m thrilled they’ve already confirmed he’ll be back for Five Nights at Freddy’s 3. It’s awesome to see him branch out like this!

In 2026, Lillard will appear in the second season of Daredevil: Born Again and Scream 7. He’s already shared that he’ll be playing Mr. Charles, a powerful new villain, in Daredevil: Born Again. Surprisingly, he’s also returning as Stu Macher in Scream 7, even though his character was previously killed off in the series.

He’s working with director Mike Flanagan again on a new adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie, portraying the character of Principal Grayle. The series is slated for release in 2026, following the completion of filming in October.

The first season of Cross received mostly positive reviews, with critics saying the Prime Video series is a big step up from previous, less successful attempts to adapt the original story. It currently has a 76% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and the addition of Justin Lillard to the cast could boost its popularity even further.

Cross season 2 premieres on Prime Video on February 11.

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2025-12-17 05:49