Matthew Lillard is in one of the most creatively charged phases of his career. In a new interview with Josh Wilding, the actor discussed his role in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 — where he’ll reunite with fellow Scream alumni Skeet Ulrich and McKenna Grace — plus his upcoming turns in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 and Mike Flanagan’s TV adaptation of Carrie.

But for HelloSidney.com readers, one subject eclipsed everything else: Scream 7.

According to Lillard, early test screenings have already taken place — and the reaction, he says, has been “through the roof.”

They Always Come Back

Lillard recalls the moment with absolute clarity. He was on a long midday walk when his phone flashed the name Kevin Williamson:

“I got a call from Kevin Williamson in the middle of the day… I picked up, and I’m like, ‘Why are you calling me?’ He’s like, ‘Come back.’”

There was no elaborate pitch, no prolonged negotiation — just a direct invitation from the franchise’s creator, who, ironically, had spent years insisting that dead characters should stay dead. But times and minds change — and when creative teams craft the perfect cue to bring someone back in a meaningful capacity, well… you gotta have a sequel.

Lillard admits the moment blindsided him:

“So yeah, it was a shock — never expected. In fact, he was out saying, you know, ‘Stu never comes back,’ and ‘Franchise doesn’t need Lillard.’ I was like, ‘Oh, that’s so mean.’ That’s my bit. I was beyond the, you know, circuit talking about Stu coming back and sort of being, you know, part of my shtick.”

For Lillard, the franchise’s legacy has always been central. He continues, reflecting on both the present and the franchise’s long history:

“But, you know, he pitched the idea. I was excited to read it. I got the script a couple weeks later. I think the script’s great. I think it’s very… you know… I think Wes (Craven) would be very proud and sort of in the lines of what the franchise used to be. I mean, I think the franchise was in a great place with that new team — Melissa (Barrera) was fantastic, the boys were great, Radio Silence was fantastic directors — but I do think that there’s, you know… Kevin Williamson takes just a little sort of more traditional in terms of the Scream franchise, and I think people are going to be excited. I hope they are. I think early on testing has been through the roof, which is thrilling. And yeah… I’m excited to see what happens.”

This marks the first open confirmation that Scream 7 has undergone early test screenings — and that the initial reaction has been overwhelmingly positive.

Skeet Ulrich & McKenna Grace

When the conversation shifts to his co-stars, Lillard is quick to highlight the familiar faces joining him in this new wave of projects. He first brings up Skeet Ulrich, with whom he’ll appear in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 — a reunion that extends far beyond the screen.

“Having Skeet on there is great. I mean, he and I both share the same sort of commitment to fans… we do cons all the time. He and I are like road husbands.”

Their dynamic — built over decades of convention circuits, fan events, and shared franchise history — now translates into yet another collaboration, reinforcing how organically their careers continue to intersect.

He then shifts to McKenna Grace, who not only joins him and Ulrich in FNAF 2 but also returns at his side for Scream 7. Lillard’s admiration is immediate and unequivocal:

“And McKenna Grace is, like, a star… she’s blowing up, and for great reasons. She’s beautiful, charming, funny… she is the future of our industry.”

With Grace working alongside him in two major releases — one a global horror gaming phenomenon, the other one of the most anticipated chapters in the Scream franchise — Lillard positions her as a defining talent of this new era.

The Whisky That Found Its Way to Pine Grove

Another nugget from the interview touches on Lillard’s passion project — Quest’s End, his fantasy-themed whisky line.

Longtime HelloSidney.com readers might recall that bottles of Quest’s End were spotted on the Scream 7 set, tucked inside a storefront window beside Sidney’s The Little Latte Coffee Co..

It’s an Easter egg for now… but maybe not for long. Could a Ghostface Reserve or Burn It All Down edition be waiting in the wings? Only time — and marketing — will tell.

The Lillard Effect

While the studio keeps official promotion under wraps, HelloSidney.com has kept the excitement alive through original fan-made art. Our ensemble and character posters — inspired by the Burn It All Down aesthetic — have drawn interesting engagement, teasing the tone and visual we hope to see reflected in the film’s real campaign.

And once again, Matthew Lillard proved unbeatable. Every time we share Lillard-related art, the fandom responds with the force of a city-wide Ghostface reveal. 

Our announcement of his return remains a phenomenon: 222,764 interactions, 177,125 likes, and 2,361,080 views — and counting.

Scream 7 slashes into theaters on February 27, 2026.