Summary
Overview
Matthew Lillard joins Morbid for an expansive, chaotic, and hilarious conversation covering his iconic roles in Scream and Carrie, his journey through Hollywood's ups and downs, the realities of being a working actor, his love for Dungeons & Dragons, and his philosophy on embracing weirdness. The conversation is punctuated by tangents about autopsies, slut etymology, and whether ghosts are real, showcasing Lillard's self-deprecating humor and genuine warmth.
Breaking the Ice: Becoming Josh Hartnett and Setting the Tone
The episode opens with playful chaos as Matthew Lillard jokes about cosplaying as Josh Hartnett and immediately establishes a warm, unfiltered rapport with the hosts. The conversation quickly spirals into discussions about smoking, autopsies, and what the inside of bodies look like, setting the tone for an unpredictable but deeply entertaining interview. Lillard's curiosity about Ash's autopsy work leads to surprisingly detailed anatomical discussions.
- Matthew jokes about being Josh Hartnett and his work with Matthew Lillard in Wicker Park
- Ash used to smoke cigarettes as a teenager and Elena helped her quit by showing her what smoker's lungs look like
- Inside the body, most organs are the same color except the gallbladder, which is green
- The smell of autopsies stays in your throat and tastes like a sewer-y chemical combination
" Your lungs will look like shit if you do it. They really will. But then they regenerate, right? But it takes a little while. "
" That everything looks the same color for the most part. Except your gallbladder, it's green. "
Mike Flanagan's Genius and the Making of Carrie
Lillard enthusiastically praises director Mike Flanagan's meticulous preparation for the Carrie series, describing how Flanagan had all eight scripts ready before shooting and knew exactly where every shot would be five months in advance. He discusses the no-phones, no-sides policy on set and his admiration for co-stars Summer H. Howell and Sam Sloyan, whose performances he considers career-defining. The conversation reveals Flanagan's process and why Stephen King approved this new adaptation.
- Mike Flanagan had all eight scripts ready before shooting began and knew exactly where every shot would be months in advance
- Summer H. Howell auditioned against 1,400 other actors for the role of Carrie
- Flanagan's set rules: no phones, don't be late, and no sides (script pages) - actors must know their lines
- Stephen King initially questioned why they needed another Carrie adaptation, but Flanagan pitched social media as the new horror element
" He is better than you think. I love Mike Flanagan. I love hearing that. You're actually incredible. "
" She is effortlessly brilliant the entire show. Every facial expression she makes when she's just like unsure and agonized and people aren't telling her what's going on. "
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