Getting the role on a whim

Matthew Lillard’s killer Stu Macher is perhaps his most famous role, but the actor wasn’t even going to audition for the part originally.

Lillard had taken his then-girlfriend to an audition for another movie, and the actor was spotted by a casting director who thought he’d be a great fit for ‘Scream’, but for the role of his deranged accomplice Billy Loomis.

However, the ‘Scooby-Doo’ star was then told: “You’re not the right guy to make out with Neve Campbell the entire time; why don’t you come back in for the best friend?”

As a result, Lillard went away and learnt the lines for Stu, and the rest is history.

He recalled: “I auditioned for Billy’s part. The casting director was like, ‘I love you, you’re great, I want to bring you in for this character Stu. Can you come in in a couple of hours and audition for Wes?’

“So I said ‘sure,’ and I sat in the lobby and in my car learning my lines and auditioned two hours later. I think I got the part in the room, which never happens.”

As for the role of Billy, Skeet Ulrich was ultimately cast.