The trailer for Scream 2022 contains an easter egg that sets up the perfect end to Dewey Riley’s (David Arquette) story. Releasing on January 14th, 2022, the latest installment in the slasher series is the first not to be directed by Wes Craven, who passed away in 2015. Instead, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are helming a relaunch of the franchise that still maintains continuity with the previous films.
Little is known about the plot of Scream 2022, except that it’s once again set in Woodsboro, with Ghostface targeting a new generation. The slasher also sees the return of series regulars Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox), and Dewey. It’s the latter whose story is teased the most in the trailer, succinctly demonstrating how he has evolved since the original’s release in 1996. First appearing as a hapless deputy, Dewey eventually became sheriff and married Gale, but Scream 2022 appears to boast a darker, more vengeful character.
Dewey has a habit of narrowly avoiding death in the Scream films, which only makes the nervous, good-natured hero even more endearing. However, it looks like his luck may finally run out in Scream 2022. If this is the end of his story, the trailer suggests he will receive a perfect goodbye that honors the film-obsessed Randy Meeks (Jamie Kennedy). Dewey is being established as a mentor for the younger generation and adopting a similar role to Randy as he advises the teenagers, “there are certain rules to surviving.“
The line is a clear reference to Randy’s role in the earlier Scream films, wherein he revealed the rules to survive a horror movie. Randy’s advice was laughed off in the first film before he was taken more seriously in the sequels. Dewey should be the person to take Randy’s place in Scream 2022. He spent time with Randy during Scream 2‘s investigation, learning the sequel rules and discussing possible suspects. He and Gale were also in the same location where Randy was murdered and discovered his body. Therefore Dewey undoubtedly feels guilt over failing to prevent his death. Scream 2022 features two new characters with the surname Meeks-Martin, likely the children of Randy’s sister, giving Dewey even more reason to advise the new generation on how to survive. He may feel an increased responsibility to help these particular relatives by passing on Randy’s horror rules with potentially better results, given his standing in Woodsboro.
Dewey is the perfect mentor for the new characters, especially if he has chosen to remain in Woodsboro all these years and already has some form of connection to the teenagers. He’s always displayed some similarities to Randy, with neither being taken seriously in the original, making it clear why they were paired up in Scream 2. Both Dewey and Randy were outsiders to some extent, given larger roles after narrowly surviving the first film. However, even as sheriff in Scream 4, Dewey never received a proper chance to emphasize his authority, but the Scream 2022 trailer suggests he has matured considerably. He is perhaps divorced from Gale, glimpsed in humble surroundings with a bottle of alcohol, and Judy Hicks (Marley Shelton) is reportedly the new sheriff. This means Dewey could now have nothing left to lose. Offering his knowledge and prior experience to the younger generation would give him purpose and ensure his possible death has the greatest impact.
Scream 2022 is setting Dewey up for a climactic showdown with Ghostface that he might not survive. For his death to truly resonate, it should carry weight not just for the legacy characters or audience but also for the young group poised to take the series in a new direction. Making David Arquette’s Dewey a world-weary mentor determined to protect the new group would continue Randy’s legacy and could directly influence key characters’ survival.
Key Release Dates
Scream (2022)
Release Date:2022-01-14
