You can’t make a Scream movie, find a plausible way to bring back characters long thought dead, and not resurrect (somehow) the most beloved fan-favorite of all time. That’s right—Dewey Riley is back.

Deadline just dropped this bombshell: David Arquette is officially returning for Scream 7. Joining the already stacked lineup of Scott Foley (Scream 3‘s Roman Bridger) and Matthew Lillard (Scream‘s Stu Macher), Arquette’s comeback cements this sequel as one of the most ambitious and nostalgic Scream films yet.

Of the original Scream legacy trio, Arquette was always the most openly passionate about the franchise. Wes Craven himself called him the heart of the series, and fans have never stopped mourning his gut-wrenching death in Scream (2022).

A Sheriff’s Journey: Dewey Riley’s Tragic Arc

From the moment Dewey staggered onto the screen in Scream (1996) as the ingenuous and lovable Woodsboro deputy, he became the franchise’s unlikely hero. Across five films, we saw him survive brutal stabbings, endure heartbreak, and rise to become Sheriff Riley—only to tragically meet his demise in Scream (2022) at the hands of Amber (Oscar Winner, Mikey Madison).

His death, meant to signal real stakes in the new era, was one of the most devastating in franchise history. But in true Scream fashion, like Randy (Jamie Kennedy) and Maureen (Lynn McRee) proved, dead doesn’t always mean gone.

What Does This Mean for Scream 7?

Considering James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick—the writers behind the last two installments—have made Scream a franchise that both honors its roots and reflects current cinema trends, we can assume this return will be more than just cheap nostalgia. Scream movies have always dissected the era they belong to:

• Scream (1996): Horror movie rules and genre tropes.
• Scream 2 (1997): Sequels and their inevitable escalation.
• Scream 3 (2000): Trilogies and their convoluted final acts.
• Scream 4 (2011): Reboots, remakes, and fame-obsessed culture.
• Scream (2022): “Requels” and toxic fandom.
• Scream VI (2023): Franchise-building and legacy exploitation.

With Scream 7 shaping up to be an ultimate showdown, could we be looking at the franchise’s version of Avengers: Endgame or Fast X?

How Will Dewey Return?

The news of Arquette’s return instantly sent the Scream fandom into full-blown hysteria.

This site has never seen engagement like this before. The announcement of Matthew Lillard’s return became our most viral post ever, with 177K likes and 2.2 million views, while one of our most popular fan artworks depicting Ghostface’s victims “rising from the grave” has amassed 24.9K likes.

But the biggest question remains: how will Dewey come back?

Could he be a hallucination haunting Gale (Courteney Cox)? A pre-recorded message from beyond? A fever dream for Sidney (Neve Campbell)? Scream 5 has already dabbled in ghostly visions with Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) appearing to his daughter Sam Carpenter (Sam Carpenter). Or could they pull a shocking twist, revealing that he never actually died at all and this is a New Nightmaresque film? Who else could come back?

David Arquette on His Love for Scream

Arquette has always been one of Scream‘s biggest champions. Through the years, he has shared his deep affection for the franchise and its legacy:

“Playing Dewey has been one of the greatest joys of my life. This franchise means the world to me, and I’ll always be grateful for the fans who keep it alive.”

“Wes Craven was like family. Being part of Scream wasn’t just a job—it was a love letter to horror fans everywhere.”

“Dewey was always the underdog. That’s what I loved about him. He kept getting back up, no matter what.”

“If they ever called me back, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Scream is in my blood.”

And now, it looks like that heartbeat is back.

With Scream 7 already generating buzz for its returning cast and Kevin Williamson back in the director’s chair, the hype train is at full speed. How will Dewey, Roman, and Stu fit into this story? Will we see them in flashbacks, hallucinations, or something more sinister?

We’ll find out when Scream 7 hits theaters on February 27, 2026.