Why Matthew Lillard And Skeet Ulrich Matter More In Five Nights At Freddy’s 3

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 did more than stage a nostalgic Scream reunion for Matthew Lillard and Skeet Ulrich; it quietly rearranged the board for a much more personal conflict in a third film.

Lillard’s William Afton had already been established as the murderous architect of the franchise in the first movie, but the sequel’s focus on his legacy and unfinished influence suggests his presence is far from contained, even when his body is trapped inside the Springtrap suit.​

By the end of FNAF 2, the film introduces Michael Afton, Vanessa’s brother, as a direct extension of William’s ideology, cementing the idea that the true threat is the persistence of his will rather than just his physical return.

A post‑credits voice message from Skeet Ulrich’s Henry Emily to Mike confirms that the battle is only beginning, as Henry admits his role in creating the animatronics and warns that the Marionette is still active, pointing straight toward a new escalation.​

Cosmopolitan’s breakdown of the ending highlights how the original animatronics had been keeping William’s Springtrap body sealed away and how their departure frees his spirit to seek another outlet, which practically begs for Lillard to come back in a more unleashed, supernatural form.

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At the same time, Henry hinting that he still has animatronic parts that might help Mike fight back almost reads like a mission briefing for FNAF 3, with Ulrich’s character positioned as the guilty partner finally stepping into the light.​

This structure places both Lillard and Ulrich at the center of the next chapter’s emotional stakes. Rather than background lore figures, FNAF 2 sets them up as opposing forces tied to the same sin: one who weaponized children’s wonder for murder and one who helped build the machines that made it possible.​

“Bigger Roles” Tease: What Emma Tammi And Deals Hint About FNAF 3

Director Emma Tammi has now fanned that speculation by teasing that Matthew Lillard and Skeet Ulrich would have larger roles in a potential Five Nights at Freddy’s 3, a point repeated across outlets like Screen Rant, IMDb’s news feed, and viral social posts.

Tammi framed their return as something she expects would continue the momentum built by FNAF 2, implying that the third film would lean harder on their dynamic rather than using them as background players.​

Fans spotted another key puzzle piece in comments compiled on Reddit, where users referenced Lillard having a three‑film agreement with Universal tied to the FNAF movies.

That aligns with how frequently his William Afton and Springtrap have been teased as the franchise’s long‑term anchor, rather than a villain dispatched early for shock value. Skeet Ulrich has also reportedly confirmed a deal to return, which suggests Henry Emily is not meant to remain a disembodied warning voice but a central human counterweight to Afton.​​

Fandom circles have been vocal about wanting an actual confrontation between Henry and William, often pointing to Henry’s famous “connection terminated” speech from the game lore as the kind of moral reckoning they expect on screen.

Some fans express concern that Tammi’s hesitation over guaranteeing direct interaction between the two characters could lead to missed opportunities, especially after marketing leaned so heavily on the Scream reunion factor.​

At the same time, Tammi’s interviews with outlets like Checkpoint Gaming show how carefully she balances fan service and story needs, stressing that she wants to deliver what the films require while still acknowledging the community’s expectations.

That approach makes it more plausible that a third film would give Lillard and Ulrich more layered material: Henry wrestling with guilt and responsibility, and William escalating his cruelty through new animatronic nightmares and psychological games.​

Horror Icons, Fan Pressure, And The Road To Five Nights At Freddy’s 3

The prospect of Lillard’s Springtrap and Ulrich’s Henry moving to the forefront taps into a wider cultural fascination with horror icons returning for long arcs, something Blumhouse has leaned on with franchises like Halloween.

Lillard has already spoken at conventions about how much the role of William Afton means to him, mentioning that his own kids urged him to take the part because of the character’s stature in the games.

That personal investment, combined with his history playing memorable genre villains, raises expectations that FNAF 3 could finally position Springtrap alongside horror mainstays like Michael Myers or Freddy Krueger if the script gives him enough focus.​

On the other side, Ulrich’s Henry offers a different kind of horror presence: the haunted creator forced to confront what his inventions became.

His post‑credits message to Mike already paints him as a man trying to make amends by arming others with the tools to fight back, which opens the door to a story about choosing responsibility over denial after decades of silence.

If FNAF 3 follows through, audiences could get a rare genre pairing where the central conflict is not just killer versus final girl, but architect of evil versus remorseful collaborator.​

Fan reaction online shows both excitement and anxiety over that possibility. Threads on r/fivenightsatfreddys are filled with calls for substantial screen time for Springtrap, warnings against sidelining Henry, and frustration at the idea that the two might never directly share a scene.

For many, bringing Lillard and Ulrich back only to keep them on parallel tracks rather than confronting each other would feel like a broken promise, especially after FNAF 2 finally reunited them under the same franchise banner.​

From a business and franchise standpoint, leaning into their chemistry and history is a logical way to keep the series fresh while still grounded in game lore.

Universal and Blumhouse have already seen how potent nostalgia can be for horror revivals, and pairing that with the passionate FNAF fanbase gives FNAF 3 a strong hook if production moves forward.

The sequel’s twist ending, combined with Tammi’s “bigger roles” tease and the reported multi‑film agreements, all point toward a third movie that finally puts Matthew Lillard and Skeet Ulrich at the center of the nightmare rather than at its edges.

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