‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Star Matthew Lillard Says Nostalgia Is Driving His Hollywood Comeback: “That’s Why I’m Getting Work Again”

Actor Matthew Lillard has opened up about why he thinks he is getting more work in Hollywood again. He believes it is not just about him as a person, but more about nostalgia and audiences wanting to revisit the past.

Speaking on the “Phase Hero” podcast, Lillard said older projects like the “Scooby-Doo” films are now gaining more attention than they did when they first came out. He explained that this trend seems to be shaping what Hollywood is doing right now.

“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. He added that this feeling from audiences may be a reason he is being cast again, since many people remember him from that era.

He also joked about how he sees his place in the industry today, saying, “I think that’s why I’m working. I don’t think anyone really likes me. They just miss the old times.”

Lillard has spoken before about how his career changed after early success. In a 2024 interview with Business Insider, he said he once expected his role in “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed” to lead to bigger opportunities. Instead, after the film did not perform well at the box office, things went in a different direction for him.

He admitted that he once chased fame and success without fully thinking about the long-term effects. He said he went through different phases in his career, including times when work was slow and uncertain.

His recent return to bigger Hollywood projects began in 2023 when he played William Afton in “Five Nights at Freddy’s.” Since then, he has appeared in several other films and series, including “The Life of Chuck,” “Scream 7,” and “Daredevil: Born Again.” He also has upcoming roles in new projects like Mike Flanagan’s “Carrie” series and the film “Behemoth!” directed by Tony Gilroy.

Lillard’s comments show a simple idea. Sometimes actors come back into the spotlight not because of a sudden change, but because audiences reconnect with older work. It also shows how Hollywood often cycles through familiar faces.

What do you think about this idea of nostalgia driving careers in Hollywood? Share your thoughts in the comments.