It’s no secret that building a lasting career in Hollywood is like trying to capture lightning in a bottle. Every day, there’s a new hopeful face showing up in the City of Angels or perhaps the Big Apple, eager to see if their dreams of being a star will become reality. That simply doesn’t happen for most, but there are a very fortunate few who actually make a name for themselves in the business. And, out of those people, an even smaller percentage become cultural icons to multiple generations. The latter group is where Matthew Lillard falls, especially for genre fans. Lillard first rose to fame in the influential horror film Scream (1996) as Stu Macher, one of two Ghostface killers, but has become so much more than the man behind the mask.
Lillard took a character who could’ve easily been one-note and elevated him into a beloved figure among slasher fans, complete with catchphrases ( “My mom and dad are gonna be so mad at meeee!”) and memorable moments. Since then, Lillard has enjoyed a career full of eclectic roles, from portraying a live-action version of Shaggy Rogers from the Scooby-Doo franchise to more dramatic turns in Good Girls and Twin Peaks: The Return.
Decades after the role that made him a superstar among genre entertainment fans, Matthew Lillard is in the midst of a career Renaissance with recent turns as William Afton in the Five Nights at Freddy’s film franchise, an upcoming part in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Daredevil: Born Again, a major appearance in Prime Video’s excellent crime drama Cross season two as a billionaire business titan, and his return (!!!) as Stu Macher in some form in Scream 7.
And, if you think that gracing the big and small screens are all that he’s up to, think again. Matthew Lillard even has a foothold in the alcoholic spirits arena with Ghost Face vodka. Ahead of Scream 7’s release, we caught up with the multi-hyphenate mogul about his current projects, finding a new legion of fans, and what he nerds out about.
Nerdist: It’s been 30 years since you portrayed the iconic Stu Macher in Scream. There have been so many Ghostface killers and stories told since then, but there’s something about Stu that continues to resonate with the fandom deeply. I think he probably has the biggest following out of all the Ghostfaces! Why do you think that character has such staying power with fans of this franchise?
Matthew Lillard: I don’t know! I think that he does have these human moments towards the end of that film, like when he’s crying on the phone to his mom. He’s funny. I think he feels a little more like an outsider. [Billy Loomis] is drop-dead gorgeous, and Stu’s a little weird and gangly and silly. So I think there’s something about him that’s approachable… It’s like a first love kind of thing, I think.
Yeah, he does feel like someone you know. And you know, they’re these constant fandom theories and rumors that persist that Stu is coming back. And in some form, you are now coming back for Scream 7, which is super exciting. I know you can’t spoil anything, but what was it like to step back into the world of Scream again and get a chance to work with Neve Campbell and Kevin Williamson?
Lillard: It was amazing! I mean, I’ve been waiting. I’d sort of been petitioning and campaigning for that call for 20 years. At some point, I was originally supposed to be the killer in Scream 3, so I was like, “Well, come on. He’s alive. I mean, we’ve validated the fact that he’s alive. He’s going to be in three, so he can still be alive.” So that was super fun… I think the fans are going to love the movie. I think it really hearkens back to what the original was. And for me, getting a chance to come back and play in this world after all these years is really lovely and I’m excited.
It’s interesting you said that it was kind of hearkening back to that very first film. You even see that in the trailer, where it feels a little bit more grounded. It’s nice to see the franchise back in small-town settings again and paying homage to that original film by going back to the basics.
Lillard: I think that you’re right on point with that. Yes.
And I love that you’re also still connecting with the fandom. You’re always going to conventions and speaking with fans and signing autographs, but now you’re connecting in a whole different way with Ghost Face vodka. How did that venture come about, and why did vodka feel like the right spirit to represent Ghostface?
Lillard: Great questions. I created a company with my partners three years ago called Find Familiar Spirits, and we create high-end spirit experiences for fandom. So we’ve done a Dungeons & Dragons high fantasy line, and we’ve done Macabre Spirits with Mike Flanagan. And so we believe in creating spirit experiences for specific fans. So instead of selling to everyone, we are like, “I see you love horror movies. We’re going to make things for you.”
I know firsthand the power of Ghostface in terms of a piece of machinery. It’s the number one mask in the entire world for Halloween, and everyone knows it at first sight. And so we started to think about building something around that fandom for that fandom. We will never just slap a logo on something and say, “Hey, look at this! This is a Ghostface thing!” We have to actually give something to the community.
So we actually created a game that you can play on the back of the bottle called Killer Bash. And it’s basically a game of mafia. Everyone logs on with their phone using a QR code and goes into a game experience. We created a game so that you can sit around with your friends and play.
It took a long time to get the rights. [The Ghost Face vodka] had 45,000 people sign up for early access, and it sold out in less than two hours with over 10,000 bottles. The whole thing has been such a massive success that we just did a deal with Total Wine & More, and we are going to bring Ghost Face Vodka to shelves this Halloween season. So we couldn’t be more excited. Everyone’s going to be able to get it, play the game, and toast. It’s going to be a blast.
It’s so cool to know that there’s a game with Ghost Face vodka. That’s a very Scream way to approach making this spirit one that reflects the fandom and films.
Lillard: Yeah. And in terms of why we chose vodka, which is a great question, and nobody’s asked that yet, it’s because we want it to be available [quickly]. A lot of timesm our whiskey is really expensive, and we do 5 and 10-year aging on our whiskey. We try to do really high-end collectible stuff. The great thing about vodka is that it’s accessible and not as expensive. We wanted Ghost Face vodka to be in every store everywhere and to become a staple of the Halloween season. We had this idea of bringing out a new flavor profile every Halloween season and our vodka being what you stock up on for your Halloween parties.
That would be amazing! Now, outside of the Scream world, you’re having quite the career run at the moment. You’re going to be in Daredevil: Born Again season two and Cross season two, but I want to talk about Five Nights at Freddy’s. That franchise has made you a horror icon to a whole new generation of movie and game lovers. What is it like to connect with a new legion of fans?
Lillard: Well, anytime as an actor you get another chance to be a part of a franchise that impacts a generation, it’s good as it gets. I mean, it’s huge, right? So many times movies come and go, it’s transactional, and nobody gives a shit. There’s something about that franchise, obviously, that’s a massive hit… Playing William Afton is such an iconic character in that world that it’s an absolute privilege.
But I’m just really grateful, and I understand the impact characters can have on a generation of kids, and I think I’m well-versed in how to hold space for people and kids and adults to be super fans and make them feel seen. I understand the impact that these parts have on other people. And for me, I don’t take that lightly, and I actually really respect that relationship.
And that’s such a wonderful way to approach fans, especially when what you’re doing is tied to something that’s deeply loved. Now, you’re also diving into the world of Marvel in Daredevil: Born Again. What can we expect from Mr. Charles?
Lillard: You can expect a character who is not impressed by power. He is a guy who is sort of a kingmaker himself. Whatever’s happening in this universe, he’s not impressed by, which is very fun when you’re sitting across from the likes of [Kingpin actor Vincent D’onofrio]. That’s really fun.
What were some of the most rewarding and challenging aspects of joining the Marvel universe?
Lillard: The most rewarding thing is sitting across from great actors and feeling like I belonged and feeling welcomed into that established world. Going into something, you feel like “I’m not a series regular and I don’t know everyone in the crew’s name.” You feel like you’re coming to work, and it’s lonely. Imposter syndrome rages when you’re in that situation.
But being in Daredevil: Born Again, doing good work, feeling welcomed, and feeling like people were appreciative of the work, I mean, that’s the best. Even now, after all these years, I just want to do good work, and I want to make people happy when I’m working with them. And so I feel like I left the creatives on that project happy that they hired me. And I will tell you that show, that season of television is going to be electric. I cannot wait for people to see it.
That’s lovely, and I’m so excited to see what Mr. Charles is up to in New York City. So many of our readers are excited about you joining the cast. One last question for you. At Nerdist, we’re all about celebrating your favorite nerdy things, from horror films to comics to whatever else makes your heart happy. What do you nerd out about the most?
Lillard: Oh, Tai, it’s so obvious [laughs]! I have a company called Beadle & Grimm’s, which started six years ago. It’s a company designed to build high-end gaming accessories for Dungeons and Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and other nerd-like realms. For me, playing games, playing RPGs specifically, sitting around a table with your best friends, telling a story is the best. I started playing with my guys when I was 21. I’m 56 years old now, and we still play together. We still share time around the table. I’ve never had more fun than sitting around that table.
And to me, that fellowship, that community, that business is at the cornerstone of who I am as a man. That defines who I am. So I nerd out the most about Dungeons and Dragons, RPGs, and friendship.