Dermot Mulroney, the “My Best Friend’s Wedding” and “August: Osage County” star, 59, is adding to his résumé when he joins the cast of Scream VI (in theaters March 10).
The blood-and-gore story moves to New York City when the four survivors of the Ghostface murders leave Woodsboro for the Big Apple, but it isn’t long before they, along with Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox), are once again fighting for their lives when a new killer emerges, and they turn to Detective Bailey (Mulroney) for assistance.
Q: What can you tease about Scream VI?
We can talk about what kind of movie Scream VI is. A great murder mystery is a group of suspects, like “Clue” or “Murder on the Orient Express.” Imagine taking that idea and putting it into a huge metropolitan area instead of small towns.
Q: You play Detective Bailey. What was it about this policeman that intrigued you enough to take the role?
The thing I liked best about being a policeman in “Scream VI” is that I could follow in the footsteps of the great David Arquette playing Dewey for so many beloved films of the franchise. It’s a great legacy to continue playing a cop in the Scream series. I was thrilled to be added to this franchise at this time, especially when the movies are taking a turn for the gorier, with more thrilling action, and more intense emotional connections between the characters.
Q: Courteney Cox is back and she’s an original from 1996. What conversations did you have about “Scream”?
It was so fun to talk to Courteney because I appeared with her on Friends. Together we decided that the three episodes that I did were by far the most favorite of all the series, which seems weird that we’d then be in a movie together and get to talk about that. But it’s amazing. I was so proud of that designation, even if it was sort of self-ascribed.
So, to join up with Courteney’s character from “Scream V” who’s moved to New York, the throughline is that she’s a journalist there. She’d already left the small town behind. So, part of the story is it catches up to her.
Q: Would you say the move to New York City gives it a whole fresh start, so there could be a “Scream VII?”
Oh, gosh, well you’re preaching to the choir there. You don’t have to sneak up behind me in a mask and surprise me with that idea. I would love that, of course. Who wouldn’t?
Q: You’ve done Westerns, rom-coms and now horror. Is the best part of your career that you’ve been able to do so many different types of things and haven’t been typecast?
Yes. That’s the part that I get the biggest kick out of. I always dreamed of doing this. I had that exact picture in my mind as a young actor, of being able to continue being an actor for decades and play dozens and dozens of different types of characters. The whole thing is a dream come true.
Q: When you take on a role like Nick in “The Wedding Date” [with Debra Messing], who’s this perfect man, is there added pressure because you have to perform and look a certain way?
Yeah, well even still, I’m a really active guy, athletic, but I’ve always felt like other actors kept pushing the physique bar higher and higher. Throughout the years that I worked, part of the assignment for my whole generation of actors was to be in great shape, whereas previous generations of actors, if you’re picturing guys from the 1970s and earlier, that wasn’t part of the game. But it always was for the male, white actors of privilege who waltzed into Hollywood in the 1980s and early 1990s.
The script for “The Wedding Date” (2005) literally said, “the guy strips off his shirt and his abs are blah, blah, blah.” For me, that was a tall assignment and I’m glad that it lives on on-screen and that ever since then, people think I’m some fitness model. Instead, I’m an active man of my age who tries to stay fit for the movies because they’ve always needed us to look so good. I tried to do my part. That’s all I’m trying to do.
Q: What gets you up in the morning?
Well, I have teenagers [with second wife, Tharita Cesaroni], so I get them up and off to school. I spring out of bed every day. I can’t wait to go to work. I start another movie in a couple weeks. But what I mean is if I’m on a job, and even if it’s an early call, I’m always up and at ‘em. I just have that kind of personality. I love what I do so much, can’t you imagine how fun it is? Even now that I’ve been doing it this long, I still find it so exciting.
Q: That is so great to hear because they say if you really like what you’re doing then it’s not work.
Yeah, but honestly, it doesn’t even count. That would be great if we were talking about a regular nine-to-
five job. There’s nobody that wouldn’t like this. I don’t know how else to put it. I don’t mean to show privilege. I’ve worked really hard. It’s not work, but it’s film acting, it’s wonderful. I’m so blessed.
Q: There’s that expression how luck is really preparation plus opportunity. Have you heard that?
I think it’s probably preparation plus let’s add some wholesome things in there—plus good parenting and teachers, in my case. What else makes good luck? Being prepared, being knowledgeable, good retention. Being able to learn is how you move on from mistakes. There are a couple things I didn’t get cast in in high school. I still remember those—the things that I wasn’t able to do.
