Matthew Lillard has revealed that he had very little faith in Scream while making the 1996 horror film that would ultimately become one of the defining movies of his career.
Speaking during a New York Comic Con panel, Lillard recalled finishing a grueling overnight shoot covered in fake blood and talking with his co-stars about what they would do next. At the time, he believed the movie would attract little attention. Thirty years later, the franchise remains one of horror’s most recognizable brands.
Matthew Lillard did not expect Scream to become a hit
Lillard played Stu Macher in Wes Craven’s original film alongside Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette and Skeet Ulrich. The movie blended slasher conventions with self-aware humor and became a box-office success, launching a franchise that has continued across multiple generations.
His recollection is striking because the cast could not have known how dramatically the film would reshape the horror genre. Lillard said that while Cox was returning to Friends and Campbell had Party of Five, he was thinking about his own uncertain next step.
The actor’s relationship with Scream has only grown more significant with time. Fans have continued to debate Stu’s legacy for decades, and Lillard remains a popular presence at conventions and anniversary events.
Thirty years of Scream
The comments come as the original movie approaches its 30th anniversary, giving the cast another opportunity to look back at a project that initially seemed far less important than it later became.
Variety reported Lillard’s NYCC remarks on October 11, 2026. His admission offers a reminder that even actors inside a future blockbuster can have no idea how audiences will respond until a movie reaches theaters.