When Dewey died, he wasn’t himself. He was a different type of character, one that Arquette couldn’t play effectively and one that wasn’t needed for the story. His unlikely return in Scream 7 can work, as long as we get more of the bumbling, lovable Dewey we know from the first four movies, leaving that mournful Dewey dead in the past.

As mentioned, Neve Campbell was the first returning Scream cast member announced for Scream 7. After deciding to quit Scream VI over pay disputes, Neve announced her return in March 2024. On Instagram, Neve revealed: "Sidney Prescott is coming back! It's always been such a blast and an honor to get to play Sidney in the Scream movies."

Scream 7 is shaping up to be one of the franchise’s more mysterious installments. Changes were necessary after the exit of Radio Silence AKA Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the subsequent firing of Melissa Barrera, and the departure of Jenna Ortega. It seems the strategy is to dive fully into the past.

The upcoming sequel Scream 7 is bringing back another familiar face: David Arquette’s Dewey Riley, who makes his return after the character died in the fifth movie. Deadline reports Scream 7 will mark the return of Arquette’s character.