Scream Directors Open Up About Jaw-Dropping Death Scene

Scream has now been in theaters nearly a week, reigniting the franchise for a new generation--and ushering in a new era where the movies are made without the late Wes Craven serving as director. Once more, Ghostface is cutting and slashing his way through Woodsboro, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake–and we've already broken it all down for you. There's one particular moment that needs some serious discussion, though.

Warning: The following contains major spoilers for the latest Scream film, which is in theaters now. If you haven't seen the movie, you should stop reading now. This is your final warning.

After somehow surviving four separate Ghostface attacks, Dewey Riley (David Arquette) met his end at the masked killer's blade. Dewey's death was foreshadowed early in the film when he explained that he'd survived being stabbed nine times in the past, not unlike how a cat has nine lives. And true to that, the tenth (and eleventh) stab wounds proved to be fatal as Ghostface plunged one knife into his stomach, and another into his back--essentially splitting Dewey in half as both knives were pulled upward.

So why, after all of this time, kill Dewey? According to Tyler Gillett, one of the movie's directors, it was an important choice to make. "It plays such a key role in the story, it really is kind of like the keystone of connecting the new cast to the legacy," he explained to GameSpot.

That said, whether or not Dewey should die wasn't always set in stone--in fact, there was a backup plan just in case. "Even when we were on set, it was requested that we shoot an alternate should we decide in post[-production] to change it, which is a great idea," Gillett admitted. A similar thing was done on the first Scream film, which Dewey wasn't originally supposed to survive.

"I'm sure you've heard these stories, but on the first one Dewey died and then everybody was loving the character when they were putting it together," Gillett said. "It was Wes or [editor] Patrick Lussier, one of them, [who] said 'We just need a shot of Dewey alive because we might want to keep him. alive.' So that shot of Dewey going in the ambulance [with the] thumbs up, that was like a last-minute grab."

Ultimately, though, the new Scream didn't go with that alternate ending for the character. "At the end of the day, I don't think any of us know what the story would be without that," Gillett reasoned. "And, you know, it was hard, it was rough because we love Dewey as much as anybody and to see that happen. It was just very moving."

And, of course, it was a heart-wrenching day during filming. "The day we shot it was honestly one of the most emotional days that we've ever had on any set at any given time," executive producer Chad Villella remembered. "There was a different magic in the air that day, and just the somberness and just an unbelievable amount of love and respect for the character--and for David and everything he brought to it. Honestly, David was just phenomenal throughout the movie and what he did with this character throughout the past 25 years and then from what we know of our movie.We can't say enough amazing things about David Arquette."

To say Dewey is a beloved character to fans is an understatement. Then again, that plays right into one of the unwritten rules of the remake sequel Scream plays around with. As with Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Dewey met his end to help usher in the next generation. Here's hoping we get to see them again in another Scream sequel.

Scream is in theaters now.