‘I Don’t Think Anyone Really Likes Me’ — Matthew Lillard Partially Pins Recent Success on Nostalgia Because Fans ‘Just Miss the Old Days’
Actor Matthew Lillard has attributed part of his recent career resurgence to audience nostalgia. During an interview on The Brandon Davis Show, Lillard discussed his recent high-profile roles, including Mr. Charles in a Marvel Cinematic Universe project and William Afton in the Five Nights at Freddy’s adaptation, as well as his appearances in Scream and Daredevil: Born Again.
Lillard described his renewed prominence as stemming from a “weird nostalgia thing,” suggesting audiences are gravitating toward his work because they “just miss the old days.” He noted that properties from his earlier career, such as the Scooby-Doo films, have become more popular in retrospect than they were at their original release. The actor’s observations highlight how nostalgia and fan attachment to established franchises continue to drive casting decisions and audience engagement in contemporary entertainment.