Matthew Lillard believes nostalgia has played a major role in his recent Hollywood comeback. The actor, known for playing Shaggy in the live-action ‘Scooby-Doo’ films, said audiences and studios are looking back at earlier pop culture moments with fresh interest. Lillard said that renewed affection for the films has helped him get hired again, even as he joked that people do not necessarily like him as much as they miss the era he represents.
Matthew Lillard talks Hollywood nostalgia on ‘Phase Hero’
During a recent appearance on the ‘Phase Hero’ podcast, Lillard spoke about the renewed popularity of ‘Scooby-Doo’ and ‘Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed’. “’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,” Lillard said.Lillard added that his link to that period has shaped his current career momentum. “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 then laughed and said, “I think that’s why I’m working. I don’t think anyone really likes me. They just miss the old times.”The actor had earlier reflected on a difficult stretch in his career in a 2024 interview with Business Insider. After returning as Shaggy in ‘Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed’, Lillard said he expected the film to lift his career for years.
Matthew Lillard reflects on ‘Scooby-Doo’ career setback
Lillard told Business Insider that after ‘Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed’, he thought he would be “No. 1 on the call sheet for the next 10 years of movies.” Instead, the film struggled at the box office and “the exact opposite happened.”The actor said that period forced him to rethink what he wanted from acting. “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 said.Lillard also admitted that his career had moved through uneven phases. “I’ve gone through good patches and bad patches. I’ve been irrelevant and thought I was never going to work again.”Lillard’s major return came in 2023, when he played William Afton in ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’. Since then, he has continued to book high-profile roles. His recent and upcoming projects include ‘The Life of Chuck’, ‘Five Nights and Freddy’s 2’, ‘Scream 7’ and ‘Daredevil: Born Again’. He will also appear in Mike Flanagan’s ‘Carrie’ TV series and star with Pedro Pascal, Will Arnett and Olivia Wilde in Tony Gilroy’s ‘Behemoth!’.
