Matthew Lillard on ‘Scream 7,’ ‘Carrie,’ ‘Daredevil,’ and how a director’s snub led to ‘a beautiful moment’

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Matthew Lillard has been campaigning for a while.

Matthew Lillard was eager to reprise his role in the “Scream” movies. He jokingly considered proving his character, Stu Macher, could survive being hit by a television – even though the story says Stu was electrocuted. Lillard even briefly thought about actually dropping a TV on his own head! Thankfully, he didn’t, as he ended up facing plenty of challenges and negative reactions anyway.

The “Scooby-Doo” actor has been cast in several high-profile projects. He’s on “Cross,” the Amazon Prime show starring Aldis Hodge as a homicide detective and forensic psychologist. He will be in the eight-episode “Carrie” miniseries — yes, that Carrie — developed by filmmaker Mike Flanagan for Amazon MGM Studios. He’s dipping his toes in the Marvel cinematic pond with a role in Netflix’s “Daredevil: Born Again.”

On the big screen, he’s prepping a third “Five Nights at Freddy’s.”

His hard work paid off – he’s now part of the latest “Scream” movie, and the final trailer was just released this week.

Despite Quentin Tarantino recently stating he’s not a fan of his work, actor Justin Lillard has frequently addressed the director’s comments publicly in recent months. While Lillard has been acting for nearly forty years and is used to criticism, he admits these particular comments were still upsetting.

He discussed the recent online comments directed at him, as well as updates on his current work and collaborations with friends. He also mentioned his strong urge to publicly denounce Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

So. Tarantino said some things about your (and Paul Dano’s) acting prowess …

It was definitely a strange and disappointing time at first. For years, I felt like a hardworking actor just trying to do my best work in great films. Then, after 35 years in the industry, to have it rally around me with such kind words was incredible. I’ve often felt like people only appreciate you after you’re gone, so to experience this outpouring of support while I’m still here was truly a beautiful and moving experience.

It’s not like I’m this fragile little thing. I’ve been around a long time. Did it suck? Sure.

I really enjoy Quentin Tarantino’s movies, though I’m okay with not working with him. I did think it would be amazing to be part of one of his projects, but that’s alright. Success isn’t just about short-term gains; it’s about creating a lasting legacy, building strong relationships, and having a fulfilling career. That’s what truly matters and makes a life worthwhile.

You brought up how long Shaggy’s been around, and it’s true – he’s a huge part of the “Scooby-Doo” world! There’s been a lot of content created over the years, including direct-to-video movies, live-action films, and video games.

Yeah. Isn’t that crazy?

Can you describe how you prepared for the voice acting and filming, and what made you decide to take on those roles in the first place?

I immediately felt confident I would get the job. I was determined to nail it. To find the right voice, I really pushed myself, literally screaming until my voice was raw. I’ll never forget practicing in the car on the Warner Bros. lot – it was empty, and I was screaming to warm up when the producer, Chuck Roven, walked by, tapped on the window, and asked if I was alright.

After the success of my first film, I suddenly felt like my career was taking off. James Gunn and I then pitched a “Plastic Man” movie to Warner Bros. I thought, “Now I might actually get to be the lead actor.” Unfortunately, “Scooby-Doo 2” wasn’t well-received, and it took a couple of years for my career to recover.

Looking back on my life at 56, I realize a certain experience was crucial to my career. Without it, I doubt I’d still be working in this field, or even be enjoying this current period of success.

“Scream 7” is bringing back a beloved horror series. What was your reaction when you were asked to return, and can you share any details about your character?

To be honest, I was thrilled when I got the offer. But a few months before that, Kevin Williamson, who created the “Scream” movies, publicly said the franchise didn’t need me. I remember reading that and just wanting him to leave me alone, because I was already hoping to return.

The filmmakers, Radio Silence, had hinted in the previous two films that Stu might still be alive. So, I was surprised and frustrated when it seemed like the story wasn’t going to include me. Then, out of the blue, Kevin Williamson called and asked if I wanted to come back, which I was thrilled about. I can’t reveal much about the new movie, but I think fans are going to love it.

So, you’re still working on horror projects, and ‘Carrie’ is your next one. Do you have a release date yet, and can you tell us anything about it?

I had a small part in the film “Life of Chuck,” but it was a really good scene and the movie itself is beautiful. I ran into Kevin Williamson at a party hosted by Mike Flanagan – who produced both “Life of Chuck” and “Carrie” – because we were all playing “Mafia.” I was working on “Five Nights at Freddy’s” at the time, and while talking to Mike, he told me about his plans for “Carrie” and his future projects. After we finished “Life of Chuck” together, he jokingly welcomed me to his regular group of collaborators, which he calls the “Flanafam,” as he often works with the same actors repeatedly.

I worked up the nerve to ask what ‘Flanafam’ meant and how it worked – specifically, if being part of it meant I needed to share my schedule. He quickly reassured me that wasn’t it at all. Instead, he offered me a role in a production of ‘Carrie’ and asked if I’d be interested in joining the cast.

Most people are familiar with the basic story of Carrie. However, Brian De Palma’s film adaptation only focuses on certain parts of the novel. What’s really exciting about Mike Flanagan’s new version is that he incorporates elements from the book that weren’t in the original movie, and he connects those themes to current issues like bullying and social media. It offers a fresh perspective on how bullying affects kids today. I’ve seen the first three episodes, and the whole cast watched them together – it was incredible.

Summer Howell gives an amazing performance as Carrie, and Sam Sloyan plays her mother. The story revolves around three groups of people: the students, the parents, and the school faculty. I portray the principal who witnesses everything unravel.

You’re also dipping your toes in the world of Marvel with “Daredevil: Born Again.”

I’ve been working on “Daredevil” with some really talented showrunners – Dario Scardapane (who’s running the show), Matt Nix (the new “Baywatch”), and Elwood Reid (“Tracker”). I actually run their Dungeons & Dragons games, and Abraham Benrubi – you might know him from “ER” or “Buffy” – joins us too. Dario asked me to play a character named Mr. Charles in “Daredevil: Born Again.” He’s a shadowy CIA-type who subtly influences world events, helping countries gain or lose power. He’s not intimidated by Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin at all, and the two of them have a great power struggle. It’s a really enjoyable dynamic.

I’m a big fan of how they’ve built narratives around their whiskeys, vodkas, and other spirits. I’ve been wondering, what sparked the idea to connect storytelling with the drinks themselves? It’s a really unique approach, and I’d love to know how they came up with it.

Six years ago, I founded Beadle & Grimm’s, a Dungeons & Dragons company. Recently, someone suggested we create a spirits brand tied to Dungeons & Dragons. I saw this as an opportunity to create a high-end product for dedicated, but often misunderstood, communities. My success with Beadle & Grimm’s showed me that these communities will enthusiastically support something made for them.

We developed Quest’s End Whiskey as a limited release – just 16 bottles delivered over four years. Each bottle represents a different character and tells a new part of a continuing story. It was incredibly popular, selling out within two weeks, and quickly gained a waiting list of 25,000 people eager to buy the first bottle.

I understand how influential the movie “Scream” has been in the horror genre. We saw an opportunity to create something really exciting for fans by licensing the rights to the Ghostface character. It took time, but we eventually secured those rights and developed Ghostface Vodka. We initially aimed to sell 2,000 bottles of a special collector’s edition, but were overwhelmed when 40,000 people signed up for early access within the first three days.

Ghostface Vodka includes a game right on the bottle – a QR code that links to an automated version of “Mafia.” When people are together, anyone with a smartphone can scan the code and start playing. It’s a social game where a few players are secretly the ‘Mafia’ and everyone else tries to figure out who they are. It’s designed to be a fun, interactive experience that brings people together. We’re launching it around the time of “Scream 7” and hope it becomes really popular.

Lastly, we have “Cross,” your most current TV project.

I really admire the show’s creative team and Aldis Hodge, and everything he stands for. It’s amazing that the show garnered 40 million views on Amazon in just the first 20 days. What’s particularly special is that it’s a proudly Black-centered story that feels incredibly relevant to current events. Aldis Hodge and the team do a fantastic job portraying a Black detective and showcasing his deep connections within his community. Being around such a talented group, especially show creator Ben Watkins, has been truly inspiring – he’s a phenomenal storyteller.

The film “Cross” is particularly impactful because it resonates with the difficult times we’re currently facing. Honestly, politically things are a mess right now. I recently gained attention for publicly criticizing ICE, and I stand by that – I strongly oppose their actions.

Could you describe your character?

Here’s another suspicious character: Lance Durand, a billionaire who claims he wants to end world hunger. It seems he has some pretty questionable ideas about how to achieve that goal – his logic is basically that eliminating people is the most effective solution.

The series begins with a disturbing scene: middle-aged white men on an island committing terrible acts against young women. It’s shocking because it’s based on real events.

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2026-02-26 02:02