Drew Barrymore reveals why she fought for her character to die early in 90s blockbuster Scream

Her character was famously killed off early in the 1996 megahit Scream.

And Drew Barrymore revealed she actually fought to play a smaller role in the film in order to defy audience expectations, in an interview with First We Feast’s Hot Ones on Thursday.

‘In the horror film genre, my biggest pet peeve was that I always knew the main character was always going to be slugging through at the end, but was going to creak by and make it,’ began the 45-year-old when asked why she didn’t take the main role in the slasher classic. 

Behind the scenes: Drew Barrymore revealed she actually fought to play a smaller role in Scream in order to defy audience expectations, in an interview with First We Feast’s Hot Ones on Thursday

‘What I wanted to do is to take that comfort zone away. I asked if I could be Casey Becker so that we would establish that rule does not apply in this film,’ continued the Santa Clarita Diet star.

Neve Campbell eventually played the film’s lead role of Sidney Prescott, with supporting turns by Courteney Cox and David Arquette.

The film, in which a masked killer known as Ghostface picks off Californian teens one by one and which satirizes conventions of the slasher genre, grossed over $173 million off a scant $15 million budget back in 1996.

Iconic: 'I asked if I could be Casey Becker so that we would establish that rule does not apply in this film,' continued the Santa Clarita Diet star, seen here in the 1996 film

Iconic: ‘I asked if I could be Casey Becker so that we would establish that rule does not apply in this film,’ continued the Santa Clarita Diet star, seen here in the 1996 film

Stone cold classic: The film, in which a masked killer known as Ghostface picks off Californian teens one by one and which satirizes conventions of the slasher genre, grossed over $173 million off a scant $15 million budget back in 1996

Stone cold classic: The film, in which a masked killer known as Ghostface picks off Californian teens one by one and which satirizes conventions of the slasher genre, grossed over $173 million off a scant $15 million budget back in 1996

And original star David Arquette recently admitted he is looking forward to working with his ex-wife Courteney Cox on Scream 5.

The 48-year-old actor told Entertainment Tonight that they will have fun on the set, 24 years after they met while co-starring on the original Scream.

‘Well, we co-parent,’ said David, who was wed to Courtney from 1999 until 2013 and has one child with her: 16-year-old daughter Coco. ‘So, we’re in touch quite a bit. It’s great.’

Back together: David Arquette is looking forward to working with his ex-wife Courteney Cox on Scream 5. The 48-year-old actor told Entertainment Tonight that they will have fun on the set, 24 years after they met while co-starring on the original Scream; here they are seen in Scream 4 in 2011

Back together: David Arquette is looking forward to working with his ex-wife Courteney Cox on Scream 5. The 48-year-old actor told Entertainment Tonight that they will have fun on the set, 24 years after they met while co-starring on the original Scream; here they are seen in Scream 4 in 2011

Their married days: 'Well, we co-parent,' said David, who was wed to Courtney from 1999 until 2013 and has one child with her: 16-year-old daughter Coco. 'So, we're in touch quite a bit. It's great.' See in 2006

Their married days: ‘Well, we co-parent,’ said David, who was wed to Courtney from 1999 until 2013 and has one child with her: 16-year-old daughter Coco. ‘So, we’re in touch quite a bit. It’s great.’ See in 2006

He added being on set with the beauty will be fine.

‘We always love working together,’ admitted David. ‘She’s an incredible actress, so it’ll be fun to bring these characters back to life and see where they’re at. … Co-starring’s the easy part.’

Arquette also told The Guardian there will be no tension: ‘No, it’s been 10 years now, so there’s been a lot of healing.’ 

In July she confirmed her casting on the movie sequel. ‘I can’t wait to see this face again,’ the actress wrote over a clip of a white mask. She added the hashtag for Scream Movies. 

Back for more scare: Cox revealed in July she has joined the cast of Scream 5. The Friends veteran shared the news on social media. 'I can't wait to see this face again,' the actress wrote over a clip of a white mask

Back for more scare: Cox revealed in July she has joined the cast of Scream 5. The Friends veteran shared the news on social media. ‘I can’t wait to see this face again,’ the actress wrote over a clip of a white mask

In November, MovieWeb claimed that Cox was being approached to revive her role but she did not comment.

In May, Arquette confirmed that he was going to reprise his role as Sheriff Dewey Riley for a reboot of his popular Scream movies. 

‘I am thrilled to be playing Dewey again and to reunite with my Scream family, old and new,’ Arquette said. ‘Scream has been such a big part of my life, and for both the fans and myself, I look forward to honoring Wes Craven’s legacy.’

So scary: Here is the masked man behind Cox's character in Scream 4

So scary: Here is the masked man behind Cox’s character in Scream 4

There were four Scream movies in all. Also in the films were Neve Campbell, Rose McGowan, Skeet Ulrich, Matthew Lillard, Drew Barrymore, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Joshua Jackson.

The first film from 1996 was directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. Sequels came in 1997, 2000 and 2011. 

Filming is expected to tale place later this year in Wilmington, North Carolina. 

He is happy: 'I am thrilled to be playing Dewey again and to reunite with my Scream family, old and new,' Arquette said. 'Scream has been such a big part of my life, and for both the fans and myself, I look forward to honoring Wes Craven’s legacy'

He is happy: ‘I am thrilled to be playing Dewey again and to reunite with my Scream family, old and new,’ Arquette said. ‘Scream has been such a big part of my life, and for both the fans and myself, I look forward to honoring Wes Craven’s legacy’

Matthew Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are directing the reboot.

‘I’m excited to reteam with David and work with Jamie, Guy and Radio Silence on the next ‘Scream,’ Williamson told Variety

‘Their take on the movie is both original, inventive and honors Wes’ legacy in a wonderful way. Ready Or Not was my favorite horror film of last year and I can’t wait to see what their amazing talents bring to the ‘Scream’ universe. I’m thrilled to be a part of it.’ 

Also this week, Cox said she was ’embarrassed’ by Arquette’s move into wrestling.

Sports man: Also this week, Cox said she was 'embarrassed' by Arquette's move into wrestling

Sports man: Also this week, Cox said she was ’embarrassed’ by Arquette’s move into wrestling

The actor crossed over to the sport in 2000 and was crowned WCW’s heavyweight champion of the world, and his then-wife admitted she was baffled by the sudden career change.

She said: ‘I was on Friends, everything looked pretty good with our careers, then all of a sudden he wants to start wrestling, and I remember feeling embarrassed because there was nothing small about the way he embraced wrestling.’

David admitted he’s done some things that have ’embarrassed’ himself so he’s pushed himself even further.

Bloody: The actor crossed over to the sport in 2000 and was crowned WCW's heavyweight champion of the world, and his then-wife admitted she was baffled by the sudden career change. She said: 'I was on Friends, everything looked pretty good with our careers, then all of a sudden he wants to start wrestling, and I remember feeling embarrassed because there was nothing small about the way he embraced wrestling'

Bloody: The actor crossed over to the sport in 2000 and was crowned WCW’s heavyweight champion of the world, and his then-wife admitted she was baffled by the sudden career change. She said: ‘I was on Friends, everything looked pretty good with our careers, then all of a sudden he wants to start wrestling, and I remember feeling embarrassed because there was nothing small about the way he embraced wrestling’

He told The Guardian newspaper: ‘At a certain point I realized I would put myself in positions to embarrass myself, so I would then beat myself up more. It’s like putting yourself in a deathmatch – why? It’s numbing yourself with pain.

‘But I don’t want to keep making the same mistakes again.’

His wife, Christina McLarty Arquette – with whom he has six-year-old Charlie and three-year-old Gus – admitted: ‘His involvement in wrestling really hurt his career.’

Courteney and David – who split in 2010 – are set to reunite on screen in the upcoming ‘Scream 5’ but the actor insisted it won’t be a problem. 

 At the heart of the actor’s love of wrestling is the fact it reminds him of his late father Lewis and it’s a way to retain their connection.

He explained: ‘My dad used to take me to matches, and he was the voice of Superfly Jimmy Snuka [on Hulk Hogan’s cartoon, ‘Rock’n’Wrestling’]. He died when I was 29 and I really miss him.’