Scream Star's Fatal Regret: Requested Death But Now Wishes to Survive
A Scream franchise star's fatal decision leaves them with regret Exploring the iconic Ghostface killer costume, the series follows various characters targeted by the killer In Scream 6, a new generation of survivors must evade Ghostface in New York City One victim now wishes they had survived instead of requesting to die
One of the stars from the Scream franchise, who had previously requested to be killed off, now regrets that decision. The popular slasher series revolves around various characters being targeted by killers wearing the iconic Ghostface costume. The first film in the franchise, released in 1996, centered around Sidney Prescott's (Neve Campbell) fight for survival. The latest installment in the series, Scream 6, follows a new generation of survivors as they evade a new Ghostface killer in New York City.
During a recent GQ video interview (via ComicBook.com), Liev Schreiber, who portrayed the framed killer-turned-celebrity Cotton Weary in three Scream movies, reflected on his time in the franchise. Schreiber explained that during the production of Scream 3, he wasn't interested in continuing his career as part of a large franchise, which led him to request to be killed off. However, he now realizes the value of being part of a successful franchise and wishes he had stayed on. Schreiber stated, "Now I realize you can play that character as many times as they want you to.
"I proposed that they take me out. It's a common trope in movies to have a character killed off within the first few minutes to catch the audience off guard. Looking back, I regret not being a part of that tradition and would have loved to appear in Scream 5."
Cotton Weary's role in the Scream franchise's narrative is pivotal.
Cotton holds a unique place in the Scream franchise as one of the key murder victims that contributes to the overall narrative. In the first film, he is introduced through television broadcasts as a man who was framed for the murder of Sidney's mother, a crime that Gale Weathers sets out to solve. Cotton is eventually freed when the true culprits reveal themselves in the climax of the film and he plays a larger role in the sequel.
In Scream 2, Cotton becomes obsessed with becoming famous and even tries to secure an interview with Sidney to tell the story of the Woodsboro murders. His pursuit of fame leads him to become involved when a new Ghostface killer emerges, and he ultimately saves Sidney from the copycat killer. Despite receiving credit for saving Sidney, Cotton's newfound fame is short-lived as he and his girlfriend Christine become victims of a new Ghostface killer in the opening moments of Scream 3.
While the ongoing cast of characters in the Scream franchise have become beloved, the opening murder victims are just as memorable as they set the stage for key developments and twists. In Cotton's case, his murder established the advanced voice changer that the killer in Scream 3 used, raising the stakes even higher for a film that concluded Sidney's initial three-film arc. Although it's unlikely that Schreiber's Cotton Weary could make a spectacular return, fans can't help but wonder what role an older Cotton would play in the franchise.
Source: GQ (via ComicBook.com)
