The actor mentioned he needed to recalibrate my expectations after the failure of 2004’s ‘Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed.’
Matthew Lillard has a significant reason for rejecting the chance to participate in Dancing With the Stars.
The actor recently shared with Business Insider his initial career challenges, particularly following the unexpected box office failure of 2004’s Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed.
“I imagined I would be the top choice on the call sheet for the next decade of films,” Lillard remarked regarding the Scooby-Doo sequel, in which he portrayed Shaggy. “But in reality, it turned out to be just the opposite.” Consequently, Lillard had to reassess his career, and that’s when his team at the time suggested he participate in ABC’s dance competition show. Nevertheless, the actor wasn’t eager about the concept.
“I was set to participate in Dancing with the Stars. And I thought, if I take that route, winning an Academy Award will be out of reach,” Lillard shared. “If I join Dancing with the Stars, I’ll gain fame but not be recognized as a great actor, and what I truly desire is to excel as a great actor.”
The Good Girls star ultimately concluded that he merely wished “to be an actor. I just want to be in films. I want to realign my expectations.”
Even before Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed flopped, Lillard admitted he got “caught up in the success of what I was doing.” He would find himself frequently reading reviews and stopping by movie theaters, hoping to get recognized.
“I got wrapped up in the roles I was landing, I was consumed by this desire to be what you might call famous,” he reflected. “I’ve experienced ups and downs. There have been times when I felt unimportant and believed I would never find work again.”
While Lillard’s initial career journey didn’t unfold as expected, he ultimately hit his stride, voicing the character of Shaggy in several Scooby-Doo movies, series, and video games. He has appeared in numerous projects during his career, including 2023’s Five Nights at Freddy’s, and is poised to reprise his role in the sequel.
He mentioned, “I’ve experienced every facet of the profession, and I really enjoy my position at this moment.”