Wes Cravenwas “like a father” to hisScreamcast.
On Monday, Paramount Pictures released a behind-the-scenesfeaturettefrom the upcoming fifthScreammovie, out Jan. 14, titled “For Wes,” in which the original cast discuss how the sequel honors the late director. Craven, who died of a brain tumor at age 76 in 2015, directed all fourScreammovies, plus scary movie classics likeA Nightmare on Elm Street.
“Wes Craven, you always think of him as the king of horror,” Courteney Cox says in the video. “He is an incredible director, but he is also an incredible human.”
David Arquette then gets emotional, saying, “I might start crying when we start talking about Wes.” Adds Neve Campbell, “He was like a father, in a lot of ways, to all of us.”
Ready or Notfilmmakers Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin direct the nextScream, for which the three O.G.stars reprise their characters. Kevin Williamson, who wrote the originalScream, teased toEntertainment Tonightabout the new film, “The movie is a love letter to Wes. It’s a tribute in a beautiful way. They have a really nice tribute planned for him and I don’t want to give it away but the movie is 100 percent dedicated to Wes Craven.”
Courteney Cox and Wes Craven atScream 2premiere in February 1997.Bei/Shutterstock
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“I genuinely was in two minds,” Campbell said. “The idea of making these films without Wes Craven seemed challenging to me. I loved the man very much. But Matt and Tyler wrote me a letter, speaking of their appreciation and great respect for Wes Craven, and speaking of the fact that the very reason that they are directors today was because of these movies and because of Wes, and that meant a great deal to me.”
Cox, 57, also felt Craven’s absence on set after they had worked with him on the first fourScreammovies.
“From the second I walked on the set, I felt extremely emotional and felt a real missing and longing for him,” Cox toldEW. “He had such [a] special, kind and caring quality about him, not to mention his incredible talent as a filmmaker. I looked up to Wes immensely professionally but also as a friend. I feel Wes would be so happy with the way Matt and Tyler have rebooted this franchise.”
Screamis in theaters Jan. 14.
source: people.com
