Summary

David Arquette returns as Dewey in Scream 7, surprising fans.
Fans can expect twists and turns in the new movie, with a potential Ghostface comeback.
Dewey's return may not be a surprise, but fans are eager to see more of this beloved character.

With Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox), Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard), and Roman Bridger (Scott Foley) returning for Scream 7, I'm not the only horror fan intrigued by all these exciting comebacks. I was perhaps most excited to find out that David Arquette is reprising his role of Dewey Riley because I think Dewey's naive, genuine personality is crucial to the franchise. I'm hopeful about the upcoming slasher sequel and have some ideas for a potential Scream 8, too.

In a recent interview, David Arquette said his Scream 7 return was meant to be "a surprise," which was interesting to hear about. While I think bringing Dewey back is a good idea no matter what, I'm glad that audiences can expect this popular and caring character to pop up at some point in Scream 7.

If Stu & Roman Are Returning For Scream 7, Should Jack Quaid's Ghostface Come Back, Too?

With so many familiar faces in Scream 7's large cast, it seems possible for any past Ghostface to come back, including Richie Kirsch.

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By Aya Tsintziras

Why It's Good Fans Know About David Arquette's Scream 7 Role

Scream 5 David Arquette As Dewey Close Up

In an interview with The New York Post, David Arquette talked about appearing in Scream 7 and said:

“It was supposed to be a surprise. I don’t like spoilers."

Arquette added:

“There’s not much I can talk about it, but I hope people enjoy it. I love playing the role of Dewey."

Arquette continued that it was great to star in a Scream movie directed by Kevin Williamson, who wrote Scream and Scream 2. The actor said, "He created the whole world, so you know, we missed Wes [Craven] a lot, obviously, but to work with Kevin in a directing capacity was really thrilling.”

I think it's great that fans know Arquette is reprising his role of Dewey Riley in Scream 7. I think (and hope) that the upcoming sequel will have enough big moments and surprises that Dewey's appearance doesn't need to be one of them. I'm optimistic about the huge cast of Scream 7 and intrigued by what I hope will be several compelling characters who stand out from each other. I'm also hopeful that the new Ghostface will be different and that fans will be talking about the big reveal when they learn Ghostface's identity for a long time. As much as I like Dewey, I'm not sure that a surprise appearance would have been the right call.

Since Scream 7's February 2026 release date is still so far away, fans need exciting news and updates. It would be easy for some to lose interest. But now, fans have plenty of time to reflect on fun and interesting theories about Dewey's comeback.

As a huge Scream fan, I would have been happy to see Dewey no matter what. I'm still convinced he could come back via a flashback scene. If Dewey popped up out of nowhere and audiences learned he was still alive, I think that would be corny and distracting. It would be hard not to keep wondering how that was possible. But if Dewey shows up in a flashback, that would be a much more grounded storyline, and it would be much easier to accept.

What Did David Arquette Say About Dewey Riley's Scream 5 Death?

It's not easy for an actor to say goodbye to a character they have played for a long time, and that was the case when David Arquette learned Ghostface killed Dewey Riley in Scream (2022). In an interview with Variety, Arquette talked about reading the script for the fifth movie and said:

“I read it. I put it down. I took a deep breath. It was sad. I mean, it’s something that I’ve been a part of for so long. So I had to process that.”

Arquette also called it "a big portion of my life coming to a close and a lot to process.”

Kevin Williamson shared that he had originally thought about killing Dewey off in Scream, which would have been a shame. Fans grew attached to Dewey's naive charm and enjoyed seeing how much he cared about Sidney Prescott over the years. His earnest personality was a great contrast to Gale Weathers's tough attitude. Whether Dewey is alive again or appears as a ghost or audiences see him in a flashback, I can't wait to see this beloved character again. I would have enjoyed seeing him in Scream 6, but since that sadly didn't happen, his Scream 7 comeback is the next best thing.

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