| Dewey Riley | |
|---|---|
| Scream character | |
 David Arquette as Dewey Riley in Scream (2022) | |
| First appearance | Scream (1996) |
| Last appearance | Scream (2022) |
| Created by | Kevin Williamson |
| Portrayed by | David Arquette |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Dwight Riley |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation |
|
| Weapon | Gun |
| Spouse | |
| Significant others | Jennifer Jolie (former love interest; deceased) |
| Relatives |
|
| Nationality | American |
| Location |
|
| Status | Deceased |
Dwight "Dewey" Riley is a fictional character in the Scream franchise. Dewey first appears in Scream (1996) as a bumbling police deputy doing his best to deal with the first Woodsboro massacre. He was created by Kevin Williamson and portrayed by David Arquette. A comic relief character of sorts, Dewey is known for his affable personality, his bravery, and his resourcefulness. Arquette was initially called in to audition for the role of Billy Loomis but requested to director Wes Craven that he play Dewey instead, which Craven agreed to.
Initially written to die in the first Scream, Dewey was kept alive in a last-minute decision that Wes Craven considered "The best decision [they] ever made".[1] Despite his clumsiness and initial lack of experience, Dewey demonstrates a genuine dedication to solving the murders that plague Woodsboro, often working side-by-side with love interest Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox). He later became a close and brother figure to Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell). The character was a fan favorite and appeared in every Scream movie until his murder was depicted in Scream (2022).[2][3]
- ^ Davids, Brian (12 December 2022). "'Scream 2' at 25: Writer Kevin Williamson Talks Fake Endings and Jessica Simpson's Audition". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
dewdethwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Riley, Janelle (20 January 2022). "David Arquette Talks 25 Years of 'Scream,' That Shocking Scene and What's Next". Variety. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.