Matthew Lillard’s legacy jump-started almost thirty years ago with his unforgettable performance as Stu Macher in the 1996 film Scream. Fast forward, he has jumpstarted another franchise in Five Nights at Freddy’s. He is returning to playing William Afton in the sequel to the film Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, hitting theaters December 5th. I had the pleasure to sit down with Lillard to talk about joining the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise, what we can expect from the sequel, his legacy as Ghostface, and more. 

In 2023, Five Nights at Freddy’s hit theaters and Peacock at the same time and became a MASSIVE box office hit. The film made $291.6 million worldwide on a $20 million budget. Although the critics panned the film, audiences loved the film based on the popular game franchise, boasting an 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. Fast forward two years, and the sequel is hitting just theaters, with fans hoping to capture that magic of the first. 

What is Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 about?

One year has passed since the supernatural nightmare at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. Former security guard Mike has kept the truth from his 11-year-old sister, Abby, concerning the fate of her animatronic friends. When Abby sneaks out to reconnect with Freddy, Bonnie, Chica and Foxy, she sets into motion a terrifying series of events that reveal dark secrets about the true origin of Freddy’s.

When does Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 release?

The film will hit theaters nationwide on December 5th.

Matthew Lillard Talks Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, Playing William Afton, and Scream Legacy

I sat down with Matthew Lillard to talk about how he got the job as William Afton. What it was like to explore the character in the sequel. Of course, I had to explore the upcoming 30th anniversary of Scream and his legacy as Ghostface/Stu Macher. This was a fun chat listening to Lillard share his passion about the Five Nights at Freddy’s character, developing the sequel, and hopes to make the third.