Wherever he goes, there’s always someone who recognizes Lansing native Matthew Lillard from some project he’s done during a career spanning over 30 years, whether it’s “Scream,” “Scooby-Doo,” “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” “Hackers,” “She’s All That,” “Summer Catch,” the Detroit-based crime dramedy “Good Girls,” et al—and the Motor City Comic Con is no exception.
“You’re hoping you’ll be remembered in any capacity, where it’s ‘Scream’ or ‘Scooby-Doo’ or ‘Good Girls.’ It’s just nice you’re remembered,” said Lillard. “I’ve been in people’s living rooms forever. I have no idea how people find me or what they like, but if you’re around long enough, somebody finds you and thinks you’re cool for some reason. I gave up a long time ago trying to control or think about or worry about how people appreciate you… It’s just a matter of what demographic you’re hitting.”
In early 2026, Lillard will appear on the second season of “Cross” (based on New York Times best-selling author James Patterson’s series of novels), playing ruthless billionaire Lance Durand who’s driven by a vision to achieve worldwide food sustainability. After Lance receives a box of severed fingers, he meets Det. Alex Cross (Aldis Hodge) and FBI agent Kayla Craig (Alona Tol), who lead the investigation.
“I’m a billionaire out to save the world (who’s) being hunted,” said Lillard at the New York Comic Con in October. “It’s very exciting for everyone in every capacity… When you’re joining a hit show, you want to make sure you hold up your end of the bargain. You know it’s a call to action and you want to bring your A-game, right? For those of us joining, it’s exciting to be a part of something that’s at such a high level and calls on you to be your best every single day.”
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Lillard will be one of many celebrity guests attending MC3 in Novi the weekend of Nov. 14-16. He will appear alongside fellow “Scream” alumni Skeet Ulrich, Rose McGowan, and Jamie Kennedy; “Firefly” stars Alan Tudyk, Gina Torres and Sean Maher; “Starship Troopers” stars Michael Ironside, Dina Meyer, Casper Van Dien and Amy Smart; “Twilight” stars Peter Facinelli, Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz and Jackson Rathbone; “Arrow” stars Stephen Amell, Detroit native David Ramseyand showrunner Marc Guggenheim; Catherine Bell (“JAG”); Phil LaMarr (“Pulp Fiction”); Linda Blair (“The Exorcist”); Ray Park, alias Darth Maul, of “Star Wars,” et al. Famous comic book creators Steve Englehart (“Batman”) and Mark Waid (“Captain America”) will also appear, among others.
“I love the fandom (in Detroit),” he said.
Lillard, who last appeared at MC3 in 2022, is arguably best known for playing Stu Macher, one of the two serial killers who dressed up as Ghostface and terrorized Neve Campbell, in 1996’s “Scream,” directed by the late horror auteur Wes Craven. “Scream” grossed $173 million at the box office and was critically acclaimed for deconstructing the horror movie genre, which it also revitalized. “Scream” became a franchise with its fourth movie filmed in Michigan and a seventh to debut in 2026. Lillard spoke about its staying power.
“I would give credit to two things: It was a game-changer in terms of tone, in terms of the script Kevin Williamson wrote (and) what Wes Craven directed. It captured a moment in the 1990s and it made an impact. A lot of that movie has lived on that original impact for a long time,” said Lillard. “The other thing is Neve Campbell’s awesome. She’s a heroine people have grown up with, they care about her, they care about her as a character—she’s somebody you root for… you haven’t seen that in a long time. I give a lot of credit to her. She’s an incredible No. 1 on the call sheet.”
Lillard has portrayed Shaggy in two “Scooby-Doo” live-action movies and more than 25 animated projects, including 2018’s famous “Scoobynatural” episode of “Supernatural.”
“For me, Shaggy’s a great job,” he said. “If I had to venture a guess, there is a popularity with ‘Scooby-Doo’ that never goes away. It’s one of the most popular, iconic cartoons in the history of television. People in the ‘Supernatural’ world have an affinity for the things they care about, and ‘Scooby-Doo’ has that. Especially if you’re watching what the content of ‘Supernatural’ is, which is dealing with ghosts and demons… all that storytelling is born for the first time in the ‘Scooby-Doo’ world, in the way ‘Scooby-Doo’ tells stories. I just think something about the crossover that they loved… something they love now that they used to love as a kid. You’re paying homage to something you’ve loved, which makes fans really appreciative.”
Motor City Comic Con
The Motor City Comic Con will be held at the Suburban Collection Showplace, which is located at 46100 Grand River Ave. in Novi, on the following dates and times:
- Friday, Nov. 14, from noon to 7pm
- Saturday, Nov. 15, from 10am to 7pm
- Sunday, Nov. 16, from 10am to 5pm
Ticket prices and packages range between $10 and $299. Kids (ages 5 and under) attend FREE throughout the weekend. Kids (ages 12 and under) attend FREE on Sunday, Nov. 16.
Tickets can be purchased online at motorcitycomiccon.com/buy-tickets. If purchased at the door, the prices of all tickets and packages will increase by $5-$10.
Additional processing fees will apply. Admission does not include the cost of autographs and selfies. Nor does it cover the cost of parking.
People are encouraged to monitor the www.MotorCityComicCon.com website for the latest, up-to-date information. They should also monitor the website to see if any media guests and/or comic creators have been added or if any have cancelled. Future announcements of media guests, comic guests, exhibitors and events will be announced and posted on www.MotorCityComicCon.com.
For questions or more information, call (248) 426-8059 or visit www.MotorCityComicCon.com. Follow MC3 on social media:
- Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/motorcitycomiccon/)
- Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/motcitycomiccon/)
- Twitter (https://twitter.com/MotCityComicCon)
