With six previous movies, the franchise has gone on to gross over $900 million at the box office. The latest installment, ‘Scream 7‘, once again stars Campbell and Cox, and opens in theaters on February 27th.
In honor of the new film, Moviefone is counting down every ‘Scream’ movie ever made from worst to best, including the latest.
(L to R) Parker Posey and Courteney Cox Arquette in ‘Scream 3’. Photo: Dimension Films.
As bodies begin dropping around the Hollywood set of STAB 3, the third film based on the gruesome Woodsboro killings, Sidney (Neve Campbell) and other survivors are once again terrorized by another Ghostface killer.
Hayden Panettiere in ‘Scream 4’. Photo: Dimension Films.
Ten years after the original Woodsboro murders, one of the survivors returns home to promote their new book about surviving trauma, only for a new Ghostface killer to emerge, targeting a new group of teens.
Courteney Cox stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream 7.’
When a new Ghostface killer emerges in the quiet town where Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) has built a new life, her darkest fears are realized as her daughter becomes the next target. Determined to protect her family, Sidney must face the horrors of her past to put an end to the bloodshed once and for all.
Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”
Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a new killer has donned the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past.
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2. ‘Scream 2’ (1997)
Sarah Michelle Gellar in ‘Scream 2’. Photo: Dimension Films.
Two years after the Woodsboro murders, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) acclimates to college life while someone donning the Ghostface costume begins a new string of killings.
Drew Barrymore in ‘Scream’. Photo: Dimension Films.
A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl (Neve Campbell) is terrorized by a masked killer who targets her and her friends by using scary movies as part of a deadly game.
David Arquette as “Sammy Canzano” in the crime thriller ‘Mob Cops’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with David Arquette about his work on ‘Mob Cops’, his first reaction to the screenplay, why he wanted to be part of the project, the true story it is based on, and working with Jeremy Luke and their characters unique relationship, as well as confirming that he will return for ‘Scream 7’, and reuniting with franchise screenwriter and now director, Kevin Williamson.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.
(L to R) Jeremy Luke as “Leo Bennetti” and David Arquette as “Sammy Canzano” in the crime thriller ‘Mob Cops’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and why did you want to be part of this project?
David Arquette: Well, Danny Abeckaser, the director, is a friend of mine. We did ‘Mob Town’ together. He sent me the script and told me about the story. I had heard rumors about it in the past, but then I think I’d seen the ‘60 Minutes’ interview on it and just researching it and then reading the script. I play a lot of cops, so to be able to play a crooked cop was interesting for me. Jeremy Luke is the other mob cop. They’re two NYPD officers who start killing for the mob. It was just such an interesting story and it’s inspired by actual events. It was just fascinating. Jeremy Luke’s character wants to be famous and writes a book and goes on talk shows and starts to even get in movies. He was in ‘Goodfellas’. Jeremy sent me a scene from ‘Lost Highway’ and he’s in a scene with my sister, Patricia. I couldn’t believe it. It was so close to home. But it’s amazing to play a cop in general. Cops are interesting people. They deal with a lot. So, they’ve seen it all. In high stress, dangerous situations, they remain calm, which is interesting to watch and understand their mentality. But they also deal with a lot, and they’re worn down by having to go through all this all the time. So, there’s all these elements. But my character, he justified it for himself. He justified it by providing for his family. He’s in a neighborhood where he sees these guys in their Cadillacs and all their nice clothes, and he didn’t want any of that, but he wanted to provide for his family. He was a Vietnam vet and he’d been in war and understood death in a way. He also saw it as just taking some bad guys off the street without having to go through the criminal process, as horrible as that is. So, he justified it for himself. He really saw himself as the good guy, even though he was doing these horrible things. His biggest fear was being exposed for not being the decorated cop that he was, and for bringing shame to his family, that kind of thing.
MF: In your research, what did you learn about the true events that the film is based on that helped you play this character?
DA: We changed the names of the characters, but there’s real people involved, real victims involved and real family members of these characters. A lot of people don’t believe that this is true. A lot of people don’t think they really did this kind of stuff, even though they were convicted in a court of law. So that was interesting to walk that line of justifying it for my character, but also just the different things, the fact that they were really close friends, and it was easy because Jeremy’s a wonderful actor. He’s easy to get to know and get a kick out of it and have a friendship with. So that, they really were friends. When they moved to Las Vegas later in their lives, and they moved in the same community. Their kids grew up together. They were tight. So that was interesting to be able to play and the dynamic of a friend upsetting you, but not wanting to make a bigger deal of it or break up with a friend. You know what I mean? So, there were all these more detailed, nuanced relationship stuff that we found.
(L to R) Jeremy Luke as “Leo Bennetti” and David Arquette as “Sammy Canzano” in the crime thriller ‘Mob Cops’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
MF: Can you talk about Sammy and Leo’s partnership, their eventual conflict, and working with actor Jeremy Luke?
DA: I mean, it was remarkable. The real character was going on these talk shows and writing a book. It was just like, “What are you doing?” You know what I mean? It’s funny because Bo Dietl‘s in the film too, and he was a legendary New York City police officer. He knew these guys. We could ask him questions about them and really get behind the scenes of what they were like and this and that. My character really was kind of snake-like and very quiet. That’s what he told me, and I took that in really. So, I’m the kind of actor that’ll find things and find some funny beats and this and that. There wasn’t a lot of that. I was more, in a weird way, the straight man to Jeremy Luke’s character. So, there’s a way of doing that too where it’s kind of funny. You find laughs within, not that we’re looking for laughs or something, but you are looking to keep the scenes alive in the relationship. So that was fun to explore. I was fascinated by some of the stories, walking it through in my head how they could do this kind of thing, where did they get to this place? Ultimately, since he had been in war, killing really wasn’t what it would be to somebody who hadn’t gone through his life experience. This is as strange as it is, the fact that he’s doing movies and then he’s in a scene with my sister, Patricia, in ‘The Lost Highway’. It just blew my mind how it is so real and how it is so close and how complicated it gets. But a lot of the actors that are in the movie are very authentic to this world and have grown up around these guys. I’ve known some of these guys. So, to get into that mentality, there’s a lot of ego involved. It’s an interesting world because it’s very macho, for lack of a better word, but it’s fun to explore it as an actor, to be able to tap into that kind of stuff. To be able to, in your head, say, “Should I kill this guy?” But that’s what you’re thinking while you’re in a scene. You know what I mean? It gives you things to play with, for sure.
David Arquette in Paramount Pictures “Scream.” Photo: Paramount Pictures.
MF: It was recently announced that you will be returning to play Dewey Riley in ‘Scream 7’, even though your character seemingly died in 2022’s ‘Scream’. Were you surprised when you got the call to return?
DA: I’m surprised it got out because it was a spoiler report, and it was supposed to be a surprise. But knowing that Kevin Williamson was going to direct it, I was really thrilled for him, and that Neve (Campbell) was back. That was such an amazing thing. So, I was excited to play Dewey again. I love playing that role. I love the relationship with the fans. They have such a love for the franchise, so (I hope) people enjoy it.
MF: Finally, what was it like to return and work with franchise screenwriter Kevin Williamson now as a director?
DA: He’s such an incredible director. He is such an incredible writer. He’s just a kind person too, full of heart and really knows this world like no one else. You know what I mean? He really conceived these characters, and he brought them to life. For him to be able to direct it, I think it’ll be a lot of fun for people to watch and be a part of. There are all kinds of Easter eggs throughout it. Real interesting stuff.
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What is the plot of ‘Mob Cops’?
‘Mob Cops’ is a thrilling crime drama about the darkest corruption case in the history of the New York City Police Department. When a retired NYPD detective writes a book about his family’s ties to the mob, it ignites a firestorm between the dirty cops working for the city’s brutal crime boss and the officers trying to bring them to justice.
(L to R) Kyle Stefanski as “Phil Hughes,” Jeremy Luke as “Leo Bennetti” and David Arquette as “Sammy Canzano” in the crime thriller ‘Mob Cops’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
David Arquette in Paramount Pictures “Scream.” Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Preview:
David Arquette will be back as Dewey Riley ‘Scream 7.’
He is returning in a “surprise” way.
Original writer Kevin Williamson is directing.
From the sounds of it, legacy will be a heavy theme in ‘Scream 7.’ Not that the more recent outings of the franchise haven’t carried that, featuring younger relatives of some of the classic characters.
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But the new entry in the franchise, currently being shot by original writer Kevin Williamson in Georgia, has yet another link to the past, with Deadline reporting that David Arquette is back.
Arquette, of course starred as fan-favorite Deputy Dewey Riley, who first appears in the franchise’s original ‘Scream’ film as the older brother of Tatum Riley (Rose McGowan) and the clumsy police deputy trying to help solve the murders in their town of Woodsboro focused on Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell).
Tatum was the fifth victim of the Woodsboro Murders serial killers, which affected Dewey immensely.
Dewey, who also appeared in the other three original ‘Scream’ movies, eventually got his happy ever after, marrying Courteney Cox’s Gale Weathers, though the pair were revealed to have divorced in the years leading up to 2022’s ‘Scream’ reboot, which continued the story.
(L to R) David Arquette and Courteney Cox in Paramount Pictures “Scream.”
And to add insult to injury (actually, more like fatal stabbing injury to insult), Dewey is slaughtered by Ghostface (in this case, with Amber Freeman, played by Mikey Madison, in the disguise) in that film.
Yet we can now add him to the list of characters who will return in some reportedly “surprise” way following word of Matthew Lillard (Stu) and Scott Foley (Roman Bridger) coming back.
Both Stu and Roman were revealed in their respective films to be lurking under the Ghostface disguise (Stu working with Skeet Ulrich’s Billy Loomis) and trying to off Sidney. And both –– spoiler alert in case this is your introduction to the ‘Scream’ movie series –– are dead, Stu at the hands (and a handy TV to the head) of Sid and Roman shot by Dewey in ‘Scream 3.’
Still, we’ve seen ‘Scream’ characters return before; Billy himself shows up as a ghostly presence advising Melissa Barrera’s Sam Carpenter in ‘Scream VI.’
Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”
There are no details yet on what the latest film will feature, though given that Campbell is back as Prescott and May is playing her daughter, you know it’ll factor into their family.
One other element of that? The fact that Sidney is now married to a man named Mark Evans, who it was recently revealed, will be played by Joel McHale.
What has happened with ‘Scream 7’ so far?
Ghostface in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’
To this point, the development of the next ‘Scream’ installment has been more trouble than a scorned lover throwing on a cloak and a Ghostface mask to hunt their friends.
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett effectively rebooted the ‘Scream’ franchise with 2002’s ‘Scream’ and followed it up with this year’s ‘Scream VI’, opted to move on after their second effort, choosing instead to make vampire movie ‘Abigail’, which arrived this year.
Production company Spyglass Media Group found a suitable replacement in Christopher Landon, who previously directed the ‘Happy Death Day’ movies and ‘Freaky’, but then things started to go wrong.
Melissa Barrera fired from ‘Scream VII’
(L to R) Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter) and Jenna Ortega (Tara Carpenter) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’
Melissa Barrera was dropped from the franchise for social media posts supporting Palestine in the tragic, ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
While calling for a cease fire in the conflict might not seem all that controversial, some of the reposts on Barrera’s Instagram account have edged over into potentially troubling opinions.
‘Scream’ production company Spyglass issued a statement on the situation:
“Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.”
That was followed by word that her co-star, Jenna Ortega, would not then be returning fir the new movie. Ortega’s departure was chalked up to schedule clashes with Season 2 of Netflix hit series ‘Wednesday’, and indeed the decision was reportedly made months before Barrera’s statement and subsequent firing. The timing, though, remains somewhat suspicious.
With his main stars absent, Landon also quit the movie, citing that it had become a nightmare in development.
Neve Campbell talks ‘Scream’ return
Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”
Here’s what Campbell had to say on the news of her return:
“I’m very happy and proud to say I’ve been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn’t be more thrilled!!! Well actually I could. While I’ve been so incredibly lucky to make these films with both the master of horror Wes Craven and the wonderfully talented Matt and Tyler team, I’ve dreamt for many years of how amazing it would be to make one of these movies with Kevin Williamson at the helm. And now it’s happening, Kevin Williamson is going to direct ‘Scream 7’! This was his baby and it’s his brilliant mind that dreamt up this world. Kevin is not just an inspiration as an artist but has been a dear friend for many years.”
Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’
Preview:
Courteney Cox is in talks for the next ‘Scream’ movie.
If she signs up, she’ll return alongside Neve Campbell.
Longtime writer Kevin Williamson is directing.
Are things finally turning around for the ‘Scream’ franchise? It has been hit with various issues in the last year or so, losing cast and filmmakers.
But now there is some positive news to report, with Neve Campbell returning to the iconic role of Sidney Prescott and now, according to Variety, Courteney Cox –– who has been a part of the ‘Scream’ films since the start and has appeared in all of them to date, in talks to once more return.
(L to R) David Arquette and Courteney Cox in Paramount Pictures “Scream.”
Cox plays the role of Gale Weathers, a scoop-hunting journalist who senses a juicy story when Campbell’s Sidney is threatened by masked killers following her mother’s death.
Initially an annoyance for Sidney, the two become friends as they deal with various incarnations of the killer (or killers), and Weathers ended up married to sheriff’s deputy Dewey (David Arquette). The pair later divorced, and Dewey (spoiler alert) perished in 2022’s legacy sequel entry ‘Scream’, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.
Neve Campbell back for ‘Scream’
Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”
“I’m very happy and proud to say I’ve been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn’t be more thrilled!!! Well actually I could. While I’ve been so incredibly lucky to make these films with both the master of horror Wes Craven and the wonderfully talented Matt and Tyler team, I’ve dreamt for many years of how amazing it would be to make one of these movies with Kevin Williamson at the helm. And now it’s happening, Kevin Williamson is going to direct ‘Scream 7’! This was his baby and it’s his brilliant mind that dreamt up this world. Kevin is not just an inspiration as an artist but has been a dear friend for many years.”
“It’s been nearly 30 years since my very first script, ‘Scream,’ was directed by the legendary Wes Craven. I never would have predicted what it would become. Or that I would be directing the seventh installment of the franchise. I am overcome with gratitude and excitement, and I can’t wait to take this journey with Neve and the entire ‘Scream’ family as we bring back Sidney Prescott in the next chapter of the ‘Scream’ franchise. Thank you to all the ‘Scream’ fans. You are the gift that keeps giving.”
The Trouble with ‘Scream VI’
(L to R) Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter) and Jenna Ortega (Tara Carpenter) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’
This newest ‘Scream’ movie has had a troubled development, as production Spyglass fired star Melissa Barrera over posts regarding the Israel-Hamas War that the company viewed as antisemitic, and Jenna Ortega dropped out due to apparent scheduling conflicts. ‘Happy Death Day’ director Christopher Landon was hired to handle the movie, but he also left, citing the “nightmare” of the film’s various issues.
But with Campbell, Williamson and now Cox returning, it’s finally back on some sort of solid path to screens.
(L to R) Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and Executive Producer Kevin Williamson on the set of Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s 2022’s ‘Scream.’
Samara Weaving as Major O’Hara / Scarlett in ‘Snake Eyes.’
Cameras are rolling on the next ‘Scream’ Movie, which, while it’s being referred to as ‘Scream 6’, will more likely end up titled ‘Scream II’ or some immediate sequel variant, since the most recent movie was simply called ‘Scream’.
Weaving has experience with the directors – she starred as a young woman who marries into a wealthy family, only to discover their dark gaming traditions in ‘Ready or Not’, which was the movie that is partly responsible for the pair landing the job in the ‘Scream’ world.
Revolori, meanwhile, is more known for his work with Wes Anderson and acting as smug high schooler Flash Thompson in the latest three live-action ‘Spider-Man’ movies.
It has so far made more than $140 million worldwide and a sequel was announced almost as soon as it debuted. As it turns out, the creative team – which includes James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick once again co-writing the script – had already been figuring out what the next movie should be, which explains while it’s already in production.
Barrera, Brown, Gooding and Ortega are all officially confirmed to be coming back for more, having survived their encounter with the cloaked menace in the last movie, called, like the original, simply, ‘Scream’.
Spyglass Media and Paramount have yet to announce much about the story, save for the hint that it follows those four surviving younger characters leaving the town of Woodsboro behind to start a fresh chapter in their lives.
Also on board for this latest movie is veteran Courteney Cox, once more back as intrepid journalist Gale Weathers, plus Hayden Panettiere, returning as Kirby Reed, who last tangled with Ghostface-related terror in ‘Scream 4’.
“Sadly, I won’t be making the next ‘Scream’ film,” Campbell said in a statement. “As a woman I have had to work extremely hard in my career to establish my value, especially when it comes to ‘Scream’. I felt the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise.”
There have been rumors of a boosted offer to star not just in this next film but also a potential seventh outing, but nothing is official right now.
Whatever the final title is, the next ‘Scream’ will be dialing up some scares in theaters from March 31 next year.
It has so far made more than $140 million worldwide and a sequel was announced almost as soon as it debuted. As it turns out, the writing and directing team – which includes James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick once again co-writing the script and Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett back calling the shots – had already been figuring out what the next movie should be, and the cameras will be rolling this summer.
Spyglass Media and Paramount have yet to announce much about the story, save for the hint that it follows those four surviving younger characters leaving the town of Woodsboro behind to start a fresh chapter in their lives. This being a ‘Scream’ movie, however, they can expect blood to be splashed across that chapter before too long.
(L to R) David Arquette and Courteney Cox in Paramount Pictures “Scream.”
We don’t yet know whether Cox or Campbell will also be back (spoiler alert in case you’ve yet to see the 2022 ‘Scream’: Arquette’s Dewey Riley didn’t make it out alive), but we’re sure there’s scope for the veterans to show up again should the story call for it.
Panettiere’s Reed was more of a best friend character in her movie when it started, but she rose to full hero status and ended up almost mortally wounded yet survived to see another day. She’ll probably be hoping that she makes it out of the next movie intact, but we’re interested to see how she factors in.
Also intriguing? What the next ‘Scream’ will be focused upon, since the last one took on legacy sequels and more recent horror trends. Plus, what will it be called? ‘Scream 2’ ‘Scream And Scream Again?’
The movie will mark a return to screens for Panettiere, who hasn’t appeared since finishing up work on TV’s ‘Nashville’. It’s notable that she’s thanked in the credits of the last ‘Scream’.
Assuming all goes to plan, the next ‘Scream’ movie will be slashing its way into theaters on March 31st next year. You can just imagine Ghostface trying to figure out which phone plan will offer the best deal – because there will be some calls to make, and questions to ask…
‘Scream’ 2022 Poster Courtesy of Paramount
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The new movie takes place in post-Civil War Arkansas, as a young doctor, James McCune (Hobson) is mysteriously summoned to a remote town in the Ozarks only to discover that the utopian paradise is filled with secrets and surrounded by a menacing, supernatural presence. The town’s leader is James’ uncle, Matthew McCune (Morris), who may know more than it seems about the town’s strange ghost problem.
The son of ‘Mission: Impossible’ TV series star Greg Morris, Phil Morris actually portrayed his father’s character’s son on the 80’s reboot series, which also featured original series star Peter Graves. The actor would go on to appear in numerous film and TV projects including ‘Star Trek III: The Search for Spock,’ ‘Jingle All the Way,’ ‘Wag the Dog,’ ‘Seinfeld,’ and ‘Melrose Place.’ But he’s probably best known to DC Comics fans for playing Martian Manhunter on ‘Smallville’ and Cyborg’s father, Silas Stone on HBO Max’s ‘Doom Patrol.’
(L to R) David Arquette, Thomas Hobson, Phil Morris and Tim Blake Nelson in ‘Ghosts of the Ozarks’
Moviefone recently had the chance to speak with Phil Morris about his work on ‘Ghosts of the Ozarks.’
Moviefone: To begin with, as an actor, can you talk about the challenge of working within a period piece? Is it more challenging than playing a character from your own time period?
Phil Morris: It’s an interesting question because here’s what I think. When you’re so adorned with wardrobe, makeup, the sets and the background and everything is so period perfect, it’s almost as though you have to try to get it wrong. You know what I mean? It gives you a great cover for you as an actor, and it informs you more and more. I’ve done a lot of ‘Star Trek,’ and every time I put on the wardrobe or the makeup of a Klingon, you know who you are. In this movie, it was no different.
I was very fortunate to have some of the best makeup people, wardrobe people and hair people. So, each layer of the character, interestingly enough, gets layered on as you hit the makeup trailer, as you sit in the chair. It’s a process that I, as an actor, really appreciate. It informs me more and more every day that I go in and it sets up the character more and more.
Yes, you do have to do your research on that period, on people of the period, what they looked like, how they sounded, how they stood, and how they walked. That informs you going forward as to how this character behaves and what their wants and dislikes are.
MF: What can you tell us about your character Matthew, and the utopia that he has created in this small town?
PM: Well, at the time, there were a few communities of color and diversity in the United States that were trying this grand experiment of inclusion. One of the most famous is Tulsa in Oklahoma and Black Wall Street, and we all know what happened there. Or if you don’t, check out your history. So, there were several attempts to try and bring this country together in these communities, so our community is no different.
Matthew’s different in that there’s the phrase that “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” and that’s what happens to Matthew. I believe Matthew had all the good intentions, and all the right intentions. My prep for Matthew was that he was an ex-slave, but he was a very educated ex-slave. He learned control and he learned manipulation from his masters, from his overseers. How else would he get it? How else would he know it?
So, when he comes to town and he has all the best intentions, as everybody does, and he realizes what is really in the town, that sense of control that he learned from his white masters starts to overwhelm him. I believe that the difficulty of being a Black man at that time never left him, so there was always an underlying sense of difficulty, upset, and revenge.
So, when he had the chance to exert his power, in the movie, we see what happens. It was a very difficult character for me to play, very complex, and very nuanced. I had a very difficult time approaching him, because I knew that his controls were not mine, not Phil Morris’ controls. But I had to commit to this character of Matthew so that he lived and breathed beyond Phil Morris.
Like I said, he’s using the same controls that are used on him in a way. Not physically, not beating people and whipping them, but mentally subjecting them to a servile role almost in a way. They were doing his bidding. So, that was hard for me. It isn’t who I am as a human, and I had to make him believable and real. So, I had to own those controls, and that was a challenge quite honestly.
MF: On one level the movie tells an entertaining supernatural story, but on another level, it also deals with serious real-world themes. Was it nice to be in a project that really does both, educate and entertain?
PM: That was terrific. It was incredibly unique, and I believe a very authentic vision from Matt Glass, Tara Perry, and Jordan Wayne Long, the creators of the film. So, it was a joy. We come with our own preparation and then all these layers are hitting you. As a film, it just makes it so textured and dimensional. So, you think you’re getting a period piece, then you think you’re getting a bit of a horror show, then you’re getting a bit of a social commentary. It’s like, what else can this movie throw at you?
(L to R) Thomas Hobson and Phil Morris in ‘Ghosts of the Ozarks’
MF: What was it like for you to work with your co-star, Thomas Hobson?
PM: I had never met Tommy before the film, but I knew he was very good friends with Tara, Jordan and Matthew. I had worked with Tara on another little short film, so meeting Tommy, we met working on one of our most difficult days. What I realized about him was that he was just a game actor. He was ready to go. He was fearless, and that is beautiful to get into a scene, especially with somebody that you really don’t know. You’re trying to create this relationship that you’ve had for his whole life.
To be with an actor who’s willing to throw down, who’s willing to kind of “go there with you” is a joy. That’s who Tommy Hobson is. He’s incredibly talented. He’s a triple threat. He’s a dancer, he is a singer, he’s an actor, and he brought something really special to this role. I think that the audience will see it and our relationship is palpable. I don’t know where this comes from. I really don’t know where actors get this from, this instant ability to connect and make real these relationships that are really kind of “add water and mix.”
I don’t want to know everything. I like to be surprised. I like to be excited. I like to be thrilled and titillated. So, to work with another actor like Tommy Hobson, as the actor, I am entertained as well. I’m taken on a ride as well, and that’s the best way to work.
MF: Finally, I know you only have one scene with him, but what was your experience like working with Tim Blake Nelson?
PM: He was fantastic. I mean, this man has depth of creativity that a lot of us wish to have. So again, where Tommy’s a younger actor and not as experienced, working with Tim, or Angela Bettis, or David Arquette, those are more versatile, vintage, veteran actors that bring so much. It’s like your wardrobe, right, what we just talked about. When they bring that much, it’s best to just let it play.
You have to get in there and play, and respond to this amazing energy. They bring this spirit, an actor like Tim Blake Nelson, that is so engaging for you as a performer, there’s no acting involved. You’re just being, and you’re just involved in this reality that they make much more palpable because of how much they bring to it. It was just a joy. It’s not working at all, it’s playing. It’s collaboration on the highest level.
Do you like scary movies? Paramount is hoping you do.
With this year’s ‘Scream’ legacy sequel scoring big business at the box office already, the studio is ready to take yet another stab at the long-running horror franchise.
The company, alongside production company Spyglass, have the same team responsible for that movie returning to create more terror for the residents of the not-always-sleepy town of Woodsboro.
The latest ‘Scream’ – which was simply known by that name, rather than ‘Scream 5’, successfully relaunched the franchise when it opened in January. To date, it has earned more than $62.6 million domestically and $106.7 million worldwide. It brought audiences back to Woodsboro, where a new killer wearing a Ghostface mask stalked a group of young friends.
(L to R) David Arquette and Courteney Cox in Paramount Pictures “Scream.”
Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett should have the cameras rolling this summer, with the plot being kept secret. Though surely, we know the formula by now: some references to other horror movies, a scary phone call or two and lots of running, screaming, slashing, and slaying. And as for who will be back? We won’t spoil those who don’t survive this year’s movie.
The ‘Scream’ franchise, of course, started life in 1996 with Wes Craven’s original movie, written by Kevin Williamson. It deconstructed the genre with characters mentioning rules for surviving horror movies and still layered on plenty of terror for the teenagers who are targeted by the masked killer.
Craven went on to make three more movies, each more referential than the last, and tackling different themes such as the pressure to make a sequel and movie adaptations of horror tales.
“We are tremendously grateful to the fans around the world who enthusiastically received our film. We can’t wait for audiences to see what Radio Silence, writers Jamie & Guy and Project X have in store for our Woodsboro family,” Spyglass and Paramount said in a joint statement.
“Working with such a wonderful and talented family of creators — and in the lineage Wes and Kevin so expertly built — has been the thrill of a lifetime, and we’re so excited to bring the next chapter in the ‘Scream’ saga to life,” Radio Silence added.
“Is this real life? Getting to collaborate once again with our friends on the next installment of the ‘Scream’ story is more than we could have hoped for,” commented writers Vanderbilt and Busick. “We are overwhelmed that we get to continue to play in the sandbox that Kevin and Wes created. It is, as Ghostface would say, an honor.”
The new ‘Scream‘ movie is in theaters now and doing pretty well at the box office with $30.6M on it’s opening weekend.
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Since the first film’s release on December 20, 1996, there have now been four sequels that have grossed over $615 million worldwide, and counting, as well as a spinoff series on MTV. “Scream” not only became the most lucrative slasher-film series ever, but it also revitalized the teen horror genre.
Still, as inescapable and relentless as the “Scream” franchise has been, there are still a lot of secrets behind that mask. Here are 16 terrifying tidbits of trivia.
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1. “Scream” was originally a screenplay by Kevin Williamson called “Scary Movie,” inspired in part by the real-life killings of five college students in Gainesville, Florida in 1990. But Dimension studio chief Bob Weinstein didn’t think the title reflected Williamson’s blend of horror and comedy.
2. Inspired by the recent Michael Jackson hit, Weinstein renamed the picture “Scream” but kept the “Scary Movie” title for the horror-spoof franchise launched in 2000.
3. Horror master Wes Craven turned down the movie several times, but the director changed his mind when he learned an actress of Drew Barrymore‘s stature was involved. Barrymore was initially cast as heroine Sidney Prescott, but she then shifted to the smaller role of first victim Casey Becker due to her busy schedule.
4. Friends” star in a bitchy role. The filmmakers considered Brooke Shields and Janeane Garofalo, but Cox assured them she could play against type.
5. The menacing phone voice of Ghostface in all the movies belongs to Roger L. Jackson, who also voices the villainous chimp Mojo Jojo on “Powerpuff Girls.” During production of the first three films, none of the other actors even met Jackson but only heard his voice when talking to him on the phone; Craven thought that would make their fear more convincing.
6. Because of “Scream’s” extreme violence and gore, Craven had to recut and submit it to the ratings board eight times in hope of avoiding an NC-17 rating. Craven even lied that he had no alternate, less bloody take of Barrymore’s stabbing. Eventually, Weinstein persuaded the board that “Scream” deserved an R because the movie was satirizing violence, not glorifying it.
7. With the success of “Scream,” the sequel was rushed into production, shooting in July 1997 for a release date that December. The haste led to a leak of the script, forcing Williamson to rewrite on set and change the identity of the killers.
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8. “I hate horror movies,” said Liev Schreiber, after he had played the menacing Cotton Weary in the first two installments. So why did he act in the series? Because he liked the idea of horror movies that were “in on the joke.” Also, he said, “because I knew I wouldn’t have to watch them. I would only have to be in them.” Soon after, he signed on for “Scream 3.”
9. Cox and David Arquette (Deputy Dewey Riley) met on the set of “Scream.” By the time they shot “Scream 2,” they were a couple off-screen. Just before the “Scream 3” shoot, they got married. When “Scream 4” was shooting in 2010, they were on the verge of splitting up.
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10. The Columbine High School massacre in April 1999 made Hollywood much more sensitive, at least for a little while, about violence in teen entertainment. As a result, “Scream 3” was rewritten, taking it out of its initial high school setting, playing up the humor, and downplaying the violence.
11. Williamson proposed a second trilogy in 2008, but only got as far as “Scream 4.” (Blame that film’s less-than-expected box office for why the fifth and sixth films never materialized.) Weinstein instead decided to launch the MTV series in June 2015. Craven’s death in August 2015 probably puts the kibosh on any more “Scream” movies.
12. Campbell initially didn’t want to return for “Scream 4,” and Williamson had to write Sidney out of early drafts of the script.
13. The “Scream 4″ filmmakers initially offered Scream Queens” star Emma Roberts.
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14. Lauren Graham was cast as Roberts’ mom, but left the shoot after just a few days. Mary McDonnell replaced her.
15. The Ghostface mask was designed by retailer Fun World in 1991, inspired (aptly) by Edvard Munch’s famous painting “The Scream.” It was also inspired by a figure from Gerald Scarfe’s artwork from Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” album and some ghost figures in an old Betty Boop cartoon.
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16. The “Scream” franchise has reportedly made the mask, along with the ragged-edged cloak used in the films, into the best-selling Halloween costume in America.
If you were following social media last week, you might think the only movie news was the new ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ trailer, but there was so much more than that. We saw casting announcements for the MCU’s ‘Blade’ starring Mahershala Ali, as well as director Martin Scorsese’s Grateful Dead biopic.
We also saw production updates on ‘Lethal Weapon 5’ and the announcement of its new director, and ‘Trolls 3,’ which now has a release date. As well as the release of eight new character posters for the upcoming sequel, ‘The Matrix Resurrections.’
If you missed anything, Moviefone has you covered!
CASTING NEWS:
BLADE
It was reported that Disney has confirmed acclaimed actor Delroy Lindo is joining the cast of their upcoming reboot of ‘Blade,’ which will star two-time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali in the title role. Lindo, who received rave reviews for his performance in last year’s ‘Da Five Bloods,’ is the first actor since Ali to be confirmed to appear in the movie, although his role is still being kept under wraps.
Of course, that didn’t stop the internet from guessing who the actor might play, which ranged from a villain to Blade’s mentor and friend, Whistler. Blade is set to be directed by Bassam Tariq (‘Mogul Mowgli’), from a screenplay by Stacy Osei-Kuffour (‘Watchmen’). Lindo can currently be seen in ‘The Harder They Fall,’ and is best known for his roles in ‘Malcolm X,’ ‘Get Shorty,’ ‘The Cider House Rules,’ and ‘Gone in 60 Seconds.’
GRATEFUL DEAD BIOPIC
There was great news for Deadheads as Deadline announced exclusively that legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese will direct a Grateful Dead biopic for Apple and that Jonah Hill has been cast as the band’s iconic frontman, Jerry Garcia. The film will be produced by Scorsese and Hill, as well as the remaining members of the band, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mikey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann.
The screenplay will be written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, who are no strangers to biopics after penning ‘The People vs. Larry Flynt,’ ‘Man on the Moon’ about comedian Andy Kaufman, and the award-winning TV series ‘American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson.’ Scorsese is also no stranger to the Grateful Dead, having directed the 2017 documentary series about the band for Amazon Prime called ‘Long Strange Trip.’ The project marks the first time Scorsese and Hill have worked together since 2013’s ‘The Wolf of Wall Street,’ which earned Hill an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
PRODUCTION NEWS:
LETHAL WEAPON 5
Variety confirmed that Academy Award-winning director Mel Gibson will take over for the late great Richard Donner and helm ‘Lethal Weapon 5,’ the latest installment of the popular action franchise. The movie, which will be written by Richard Wenk (‘The Equalizer’), was developed to be Donner’s final film before his death on July 5th. His widow, Lauren Shuler Donner (‘X-Men’) will produce.
Speaking at an event in London last week, according to The Sun, Gibson talked about taking over directing duties from Donner. “He was developing the screenplay, and he got pretty far along with it,” Gibson said. “And he said to me one day, ‘Listen kid, if I kick the bucket, you will do it.’ He did indeed pass away, but he did ask me to do it, and, at the time, I didn’t say anything. He said it to his wife, to the studio and the producer. So, I will be directing the fifth one,” Gibson confirmed.
‘Lethal Weapon’ was released in 1987 and has spawned three other sequels including ‘Lethal Weapon 2,’ ‘Lethal Weapon 3,’ and ‘Lethal Weapon 4,’ as well as a TV series that ran from 2016-2019. It is assumed that Gibson will also reprise his iconic role of Martin Riggs, but it is still unknown if Danny Glover, Joe Pesci and Rene Russo will return to their franchise roles.
TROLLS 3
It was reported in Deadline that Universal has set a release date for DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Troll 3’ for November 17th, 2023. However, unlike 2020’s ‘Trolls World Tour,’ the film will be release exclusively in theaters for 17 days before going to PVOD.
‘Trolls’ premiered in 2016 and went on to earn almost $350 million at the box office and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song for ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling,’ performed by Justin Timberlake. No word yet if franchise stars Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick will return.
PHOTOS AND POSTERS:
SCREAM
Bloody Disgusting released a new photo from ‘Scream,’ which is the fifth installment of the popular horror franchise. Set to hit theaters on January 14th, 2022, the photo features David Arquette reprising his role as Dewey Ridley alongside new cast member Melissa Barrera. The film is said to take place twenty-five years after the original, and features a new killer wearing the Ghostface mask.
‘The Matrix’ was released in 1999, followed by two sequels, including 2003’s ‘The Matrix Reloaded’ and ‘The Matrix Revolutions.’ Directed by Lana Wachowski, ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ will hit theaters on December 22nd, and also stars Jada Pinkett Smith, Lambert Wilson, and Christina Ricci.
TRAILERS:
SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME
And just in case you missed it, here is the final trailer for ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ which opens in theaters on December 17th.
