Scream 5 star David Arquette wants to return for even more sequels down the line. Arquette’s success as Dewey Riley, who was introduced as a deputy sheriff in Woodsboro, was far from guaranteed. The character had been intended to die at the end of the first Scream movie. However, he survived because of positive responses from test audiences.
Scream 5, which is currently planned for a 2021 release, will be directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. The duo previously helmed the 2019 film Ready or Not, a blend of horror and satire that performed well with critics and audiences. Specifics about Scream 5 have yet to be revealed, but it’s already been announced that Courteney Cox will be back to play Gale Weathers. The return of Neve Campbell, as the perennial survivor Sidney Prescott, is widely expected but not yet confirmed. For his part, Arquette says he’d love to remain involved in the world of Scream.
While promoting his new horror satire Spree, Arquette spoke with Comic Book about his desire to return for future installments beyond just the fifth installment. Asked about the possibility of getting to portray Dewey many more times, Arquette said it would be “amazing.” He also shed some light on why Dewey is such a special role for him. You can read Dewey’s comments below.
“I love playing the character Dewey. It’s had such an important role in my life. As an actor, you try to do films that work, that entertain people, that audiences get a kick out of. You seldom do something for a small audience, to talk to a very niche group. The horror fan base is huge so when you really connect with them, and then it even goes beyond that, it’s a really special thing. When [Ready or Not directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett] approached me, I was in first, and now we’ve got Courteney [Cox] on board, hopefully Neve [Campbell] will join the team and then we can shoot this thing.”
Scream, as a horror franchise, has always been different. Because the identity of Ghostface changes from one movie to the next, in addition to their motives, the movies function as a slasher mystery that puts its focus on the survivors of the villain’s carnage. The draw of Scream is partly that audiences have a chance to catch up with characters that they’re grown to love ever since Craven’s first film was released in 1996. Much of the early discussion around Scream 5, during a stage when so many plot and casting details remain unknown, is how the new directors will handle the legacy of an iconic final girl like Sidney.
The fates of Dewey and Gale are equally significant. Some fans have argued that the trio should survive, since they’re the heart of Scream. Others feel that if the upcoming version of Scream is going to succeed, then beloved characters have to be sacrificed. It ultimately comes down to execution. If the team of Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillet can come up with an authentic way to keep Dewey around, then audiences would be happy to see him. Alternatively, if he has to be killed off, then hopefully he’ll go out swinging. Ready or Not, which was Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillet’s biggest film to date, included a big focus on developing the characters that populated the screen. The directing duo will likely bring the same level of care and attention to Scream 5, honoring the past work that Arquette rightly speaks of so fondly.
Source: Comic Book