Matthew Lillard Says ‘FNAF’ Fans Rival ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Harry Potter’: “Their Lore Is Unparalleled” [Exclusive]

Five Nights at Freddy‘s has taken the world by storm — and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Originally created by Scott Cawthon, the franchise began as a jump-scare-filled survival game centering around the spooky animatronics that wandered the halls of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, but has gone on to include movies, novels, and comics as the extensive lore grows. Despite exploring a number of dark topics, FNAF has continued to inspire a shockingly broad fan-base, from young children to adults.

More than two years after the premiere of the first FNAF film, Matthew Lillard, who plays sinister child murderer William Afton, sits down with MovieWeb to discuss the devoted fans and the ever-expanding mythology of the franchise ahead of the release of Five Nights at Freddy’s 2.

“The whole conceit of the whole freaking thing is that I’ve killed five children and stuffed them in animatronics. That is, in itself, shocking as can be, the veracity of the fan base,” he explains. “People think about fans. They think about Star Trek back in the day, and Star Wars, certainly Harry Potter. Five Nights and their fans would rival any and all of the above.”

“There’s a veracity to them that is unparalleled. What they have had to fill in, in terms of their story, their lore, the story you know, that they’ve told themselves, and you know, sort of their fan fiction, and how they go about explaining the world is so rich and the community is so connected. I’ve never seen anything like it … Stepping into the shoes of a character that’s so iconic, as William Afton, is daunting, to say the least, but at the end of the day, it’s been really rewarding … I’ve had great reception for the most part, in terms of my performance, and hopefully that continues the second movie.”

Watch the trailer for Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 below.

Matthew Lillard Reunites With ‘Scream’ Star in ‘FNAF 2’

Billy Loomis and Stu Macher are back on the big screen together — sort of. FNAF fans went wild when it was announced that Scream alum Skeet Ulrich would be making an appearance in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2. While very little is known about his character, it’s widely believed that he will be playing Henry Emily, Afton’s former business partner and a co-founder of Fazbear Entertainment.

During an appearance at Silver Scream Con 2025, Lillard said he was “thrilled” to have Ulrich as a costar again and hinted that he was looking forward to continuing to work with him.

“I saw his performance this week. They’re going to love it. He’s playing a great character. If the movie’s successful, hopefully he comes back. We’ve seen how voracious this Five Nights community is, and I just think it’s lovely to have him a part of it. I’m glad Scott [Cawthon] brought him in.”

As for Ulrich, he gushed that he “always loves spending time” with Lillard, dubbing him “one of the greatest people” he knows.

“As you guys have experienced, he’s such a giving man,” he added at the time. “I always like spending time with him, and [Five Nights at Freddy’s 2] was no exception.”

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 hits theaters on Dec. 5.

Release Date

December 5, 2025

Director

Emma Tammi

Writers

Scott Cawthon

Prequel(s)

Five Nights at Freddy’s

Franchise(s)

Five Nights at Freddy’s