‘Mob Cops’ Exclusive Interview: David Arquette

Opening in theaters, on digital and On Demand beginning April 25th is the new crime drama ‘Mob Cops’, which was directed by Danny A. Abeckaser (‘Mob Town‘) and stars Abeckaser, David Arquette (‘Scream’), Jeremy Luke (‘The Irishman’), and Kevin Connolly (‘Entourage’).

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with David Arquette about his work on ‘Mob Cops’, his first reaction to the screenplay, why he wanted to be part of the project, the true story it is based on, and working with Jeremy Luke and their characters unique relationship, as well as confirming that he will return for ‘Scream 7’, and reuniting with franchise screenwriter and now director, Kevin Williamson.

(L to R) Jeremy Luke as “Leo Bennetti” and David Arquette as “Sammy Canzano” in the crime thriller ‘Mob Cops’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and why did you want to be part of this project?

David Arquette: Well, Danny Abeckaser, the director, is a friend of mine. We did ‘Mob Town’ together. He sent me the script and told me about the story. I had heard rumors about it in the past, but then I think I’d seen the ‘60 Minutes’ interview on it and just researching it and then reading the script. I play a lot of cops, so to be able to play a crooked cop was interesting for me. Jeremy Luke is the other mob cop. They’re two NYPD officers who start killing for the mob. It was just such an interesting story and it’s inspired by actual events. It was just fascinating. Jeremy Luke’s character wants to be famous and writes a book and goes on talk shows and starts to even get in movies. He was in ‘Goodfellas’. Jeremy sent me a scene from ‘Lost Highway’ and he’s in a scene with my sister, Patricia. I couldn’t believe it. It was so close to home. But it’s amazing to play a cop in general. Cops are interesting people. They deal with a lot. So, they’ve seen it all. In high stress, dangerous situations, they remain calm, which is interesting to watch and understand their mentality. But they also deal with a lot, and they’re worn down by having to go through all this all the time. So, there’s all these elements. But my character, he justified it for himself. He justified it by providing for his family. He’s in a neighborhood where he sees these guys in their Cadillacs and all their nice clothes, and he didn’t want any of that, but he wanted to provide for his family. He was a Vietnam vet and he’d been in war and understood death in a way. He also saw it as just taking some bad guys off the street without having to go through the criminal process, as horrible as that is. So, he justified it for himself. He really saw himself as the good guy, even though he was doing these horrible things. His biggest fear was being exposed for not being the decorated cop that he was, and for bringing shame to his family, that kind of thing.

MF: In your research, what did you learn about the true events that the film is based on that helped you play this character?

DA: We changed the names of the characters, but there’s real people involved, real victims involved and real family members of these characters. A lot of people don’t believe that this is true. A lot of people don’t think they really did this kind of stuff, even though they were convicted in a court of law. So that was interesting to walk that line of justifying it for my character, but also just the different things, the fact that they were really close friends, and it was easy because Jeremy’s a wonderful actor. He’s easy to get to know and get a kick out of it and have a friendship with. So that, they really were friends. When they moved to Las Vegas later in their lives, and they moved in the same community. Their kids grew up together. They were tight. So that was interesting to be able to play and the dynamic of a friend upsetting you, but not wanting to make a bigger deal of it or break up with a friend. You know what I mean? So, there were all these more detailed, nuanced relationship stuff that we found.

(L to R) Jeremy Luke as “Leo Bennetti” and David Arquette as “Sammy Canzano” in the crime thriller ‘Mob Cops’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

MF: Can you talk about Sammy and Leo’s partnership, their eventual conflict, and working with actor Jeremy Luke?

DA: I mean, it was remarkable. The real character was going on these talk shows and writing a book. It was just like, “What are you doing?” You know what I mean? It’s funny because Bo Dietl‘s in the film too, and he was a legendary New York City police officer. He knew these guys. We could ask him questions about them and really get behind the scenes of what they were like and this and that. My character really was kind of snake-like and very quiet. That’s what he told me, and I took that in really. So, I’m the kind of actor that’ll find things and find some funny beats and this and that. There wasn’t a lot of that. I was more, in a weird way, the straight man to Jeremy Luke’s character. So, there’s a way of doing that too where it’s kind of funny. You find laughs within, not that we’re looking for laughs or something, but you are looking to keep the scenes alive in the relationship. So that was fun to explore. I was fascinated by some of the stories, walking it through in my head how they could do this kind of thing, where did they get to this place? Ultimately, since he had been in war, killing really wasn’t what it would be to somebody who hadn’t gone through his life experience. This is as strange as it is, the fact that he’s doing movies and then he’s in a scene with my sister, Patricia, in ‘The Lost Highway’. It just blew my mind how it is so real and how it is so close and how complicated it gets. But a lot of the actors that are in the movie are very authentic to this world and have grown up around these guys. I’ve known some of these guys. So, to get into that mentality, there’s a lot of ego involved. It’s an interesting world because it’s very macho, for lack of a better word, but it’s fun to explore it as an actor, to be able to tap into that kind of stuff. To be able to, in your head, say, “Should I kill this guy?” But that’s what you’re thinking while you’re in a scene. You know what I mean? It gives you things to play with, for sure.

David Arquette in Paramount Pictures “Scream.” Photo: Paramount Pictures.

MF: It was recently announced that you will be returning to play Dewey Riley in ‘Scream 7’, even though your character seemingly died in 2022’s ‘Scream’. Were you surprised when you got the call to return?

DA: I’m surprised it got out because it was a spoiler report, and it was supposed to be a surprise. But knowing that Kevin Williamson was going to direct it, I was really thrilled for him, and that Neve (Campbell) was back. That was such an amazing thing. So, I was excited to play Dewey again. I love playing that role. I love the relationship with the fans. They have such a love for the franchise, so (I hope) people enjoy it.

MF: Finally, what was it like to return and work with franchise screenwriter Kevin Williamson now as a director?

DA: He’s such an incredible director. He is such an incredible writer. He’s just a kind person too, full of heart and really knows this world like no one else. You know what I mean? He really conceived these characters, and he brought them to life. For him to be able to direct it, I think it’ll be a lot of fun for people to watch and be a part of. There are all kinds of Easter eggs throughout it. Real interesting stuff.

What is the plot of ‘Mob Cops’?

‘Mob Cops’ is a thrilling crime drama about the darkest corruption case in the history of the New York City Police Department. When a retired NYPD detective writes a book about his family’s ties to the mob, it ignites a firestorm between the dirty cops working for the city’s brutal crime boss and the officers trying to bring them to justice.

Who is in the cast of ‘Mob Cops’?

• David Arquette as Sammy Canzano
• Jeremy Luke as Leo Benetti
• Danny A. Abeckaser as Tim Delgado
• Bo Dietl as Sherman
• Graham Sibley as Ira Grossman
• Kevin Connolly

(L to R) Kyle Stefanski as “Phil Hughes,” Jeremy Luke as “Leo Bennetti” and David Arquette as “Sammy Canzano” in the crime thriller ‘Mob Cops’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

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