Scream alum Matthew Lillard seems to have decided what he wants his next project to be, admitting in a recent interview that he would like to star in a romantic comedy alongside Tom Cruise. The 55-year-old actor, who has established himself as a comedy veteran in the entertainment industry, has now set his eyes on the romance genre, with a “gay rom-com” supposedly ranking atop his to-do list.
Matthew Lillard names Tom Cruise as co-star in romance movie
While speaking with US Weekly about his partenrship with Exact Sciences’ Cologuard screening test, Matthew Lillard revealed that he wishes to explore the romantic-comedy genre in the next phase of his career.
“I’m ready for my rom-com era. I’m ready to be the boy who needs love,” the Screen Actors Guild Award nominee remarked.
Lillard then named the stars he would like to venture the romantic genre with, stating, “My first answer is Gillian Anderson, but my political answer is Tom Cruise.” He then explained the reasoning behind his peculiar decision, saying, “I really want to say something politically supportive of the LGBTQ+ [community]. I would love to do a gay rom-com. I think the world needs a smash-hit rom-com with two beautiful men or two fantastically gorgeous women.”
Lillard then joked about how he would need some time to physically prepare himself for such a role. “I [just] need to work on my abs. If they’re gonna call me, give me time. I’ve got to work on my abs,” the Scooby-Doo star noted.
Having worked in some of the most iconic franchises in pop-culture, Lillard continues to be grateful for the opportunites he has received over the years. “I have definitely been lucky across the expanse of my years to do a lot of really fun stuff,” the comedian expressed before adding, “I’ve got so much work right now in a world where a lot of actors need work because we’re still suffering from the double strikes in our community.”
Lillard continued, “People should know it’s hard out there right now for actors and anyone in the film and television industry, so I feel very blessed and lucky that my life is thriving right now.”
