Matthew Lillard told a New York Comic Con crowd that he once dismissed Scream as a forgettable project, recalling he thought the 1996 horror film would sink without a trace. The actor, who played original Ghostface killer Stuart “Stu” Macher, shared the memory three decades after the movie became a horror staple that has since grown into a seven-film franchise.
Lillard said the moment came right after production wrapped, as he rode in the back of a car early one morning with blood still on him from a shoot. “I was in the back of a car, driving home from work one night, at like six in the morning, covered in blood,” Lillard said at the panel, according to Variety.
What Lillard Said About Scream’s Chances
At the time, Lillard was weighing his next move alongside castmates Courteney Cox, who was heading back to Friends, and Neve Campbell, who was returning to Party of Five. Lillard recalled telling himself the film was a dead end compared to the steady television work his co-stars had lined up.
“This movie’s lame. Nobody’s gonna see it. I’m going to go become a television star,” Lillard said, describing his mindset in the moment, per Variety.
That plan did not pan out the way he expected. Lillard said the pilot he was banking on never got made, a detail that makes his original prediction about Scream even more striking in hindsight.
Looking Back 30 Years Later
“That pilot never went, and here we are 30 years later,” Lillard said at the panel, reflecting on how far the franchise has traveled since his skeptical car ride home.
Scream hit theaters in 1996 with a cast that included Cox, Campbell, Skeet Ulrich, David Arquette and Drew Barrymore alongside Lillard. What started as a single slasher film has since grown into a seven-movie franchise, with the latest installment, Scream 7, arriving in February 2026. Lillard also appeared in Scream 2 in 1997, giving him ties to the series across multiple entries.
Why The Comments Stand Out Now
Lillard’s New York Comic Con remarks land at a moment when the franchise he once doubted is still generating new installments decades later. For fans who have followed Stu Macher from his fate in the first film through the franchise’s expansion, the actor’s own disbelief at the series’ staying power adds a personal footnote to Scream’s place in horror history.
No further Scream projects beyond Scream 7, released in February 2026, have been detailed in Lillard’s comments.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
