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Matthew Lillard Credits Nostalgia for Hollywood Comeback, Jokes "People Don't Like Me"

Matthew Lillard says nostalgia is fueling his Hollywood comeback, noting Scooby-Doo's enduring popularity. He joked on a podcast that audiences may not "like" him but miss the past. His career revived after reprising William Afton in Five Nights at Freddy's in 2023. He will appear in upcoming projects like Scream 7, Daredevil: Born Again, and a Carrie TV series.

Key Points: Matthew Lillard: Nostalgia Behind Hollywood Comeback

  • Matthew Lillard credits nostalgia for his renewed success
  • Scooby-Doo movies are more popular now than ever
  • He jokes audiences don't like him, just miss old times
  • His career revived with 2023's Five Nights at Freddy's
2 min read

Matthew Lillard says nostalgia behind Hollywood comeback, jokes "people don't like me"

Matthew Lillard says nostalgia is driving his career resurgence, joking that audiences miss "the old times" more than they like him. Read more.

"I don't think anyone really likes me. They just miss the old times. - Matthew Lillard"

Los Angeles, April 27

Actor and director Matthew Lillard has said that nostalgia is playing a major role in his renewed success in Hollywood, joking that audiences may not necessarily "like" him but are instead missing the "old times," according to Variety.

Speaking on the Phase Hero podcast, Lillard reflected on the continued popularity of Scooby-Doo and its cultural impact.

"Scooby-Doo one and two are more popular now than they ever were when they came out. So, I do think there's a weird nostalgia thing happening in our industry and in the zeitgeist because I think that people are longing for ye olde times," he said.

He added that this trend may also explain his recent career resurgence.

"I think that's one of the reasons I'm having this moment to be honest, is because I was identified in that moment, so people are hiring me again," Lillard said, as per the outlet.

In a lighter remark, the actor joked about his perception in the industry.

"I think that's why I'm working. I don't think anyone really likes me. They just miss the old times," he said with a laugh.

Lillard also recalled in a 2024 interview that after reprising the role of Shaggy in 'Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed', he thought he'd be "No. 1 on the call sheet for the next 10 years of movies." But unfortunately, after the film bombed at the box office, "the exact opposite happened." Lillard said at the time, the experience forced him to reprioritize his goals as an actor, according to Variety.

"I was caught up in the success of what I was doing, I was caught up in the parts I was getting, I was caught up in this drive to be quote-unquote famous," Lillard admitted. He later added, "I've gone through good patches and bad patches. I've been irrelevant and thought I was never going to work again," according to Variety.

Lillard's career saw a major revival in 2023 when he returned in Five Nights at Freddy's as William Afton. Since then, he has featured in The Life of Chuck, Five Nights at Freddy's 2, Scream 7, and Daredevil: Born Again.

He is also set to appear in Mike Flanagan's upcoming Carrie TV series and the upcoming film Behemoth! alongside Pedro Pascal, Will Arnett and Olivia Wilde, according to Variety.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sneha F
Interesting perspective. Hollywood ke actors bhi insecurity se nahi bach paate. But it's good that he's honest about his journey – from being 'irrelevant' to getting big projects again. That kind of humility is rare.
K
Karthik V
Honestly, I think he's wrong. People DO like him! Shaggy was iconic, and he brought that character to life. But I get the nostalgia angle – in India too, we keep going back to old Bollywood classics. It's comforting.
A
Aman W
Nostalgia is a double-edged sword. It can bring back careers, but it also traps actors in old roles. Glad he's doing new stuff like Five Nights at Freddy's and Daredevil. That shows range. 👏
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Pooja D
Respect for his honesty. It's easy to blame others for a career slump, but he owned up to being "caught up in fame." That self-awareness is why he's back. Also, Scooby-Doo is timeless – bachpan ki yaadien! 🐶
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Rahul R
My only critique is that this nostalgia trend can sometimes overshadow newer talent. But for Lillard, it's well-deserved. He worked hard and stayed humble. Good for him! Hope he gets more diverse roles now.
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