How Smile 2 Brought In A Horror Legend For That Early Cameo

How Smile 2 Brought In A Horror Legend For That Early Cameo

As a seasoned gamer and movie enthusiast with a soft spot for horror flicks, I must say that the cameo of Drew Barrymore in Smile 2 was nothing short of delightful! With her extensive history in the genre, it’s always a treat to see her grace the screen once more. The fact that she hosted the talk show where Skye Riley made her appearance just added an extra layer of credibility to the character and made the movie feel even more immersive.


HEADS UP! This article includes very light spoilers about the movie “Smile 2”. If you haven’t watched it yet and prefer to avoid any information beforehand, read on with caution. Enjoy your viewing experience!

In “Smile 2,” there’s a plethora of spine-tingling twists (we’re still trying to wrap our heads around that mind-boggling finale), but one early shock isn’t frightening in the conventional sense. The initial scene, where we meet protagonist Skye Riley, is set on a popular talk show – none other than “The Drew Barrymore Show.” This charming appearance by the actor turned host is fitting given her background in horror films. I recently discovered the story behind this cameo during an interview with the director of “Smile 2,” Parker Finn.

I inquired from the movie director about Drew Barrymore’s unexpected appearance in the recent horror film last month, which happened during the Los Angeles press day before its release. He shared that the concept originated as an attempt to create a sense of authenticity for the main character’s storyline. Initially, when viewers encounter Skye Riley in the narrative, they are intended to perceive her as a well-known and globally recognized star. This can be achieved by depicting her being interviewed by a popular real-life talk show host, as Finn put it.

In creating the character of Skye Riley, portrayed by Naomi Scott, I aimed to add authenticity and bridge the gap between reality and fantasy, making her seem as if she genuinely lived among us. To achieve this, I had an idea to debut her on a genuine talk show, but thought, let’s make it a real-life television interview instead.

Drew Barrymore began hosting “The Drew Barrymore Show” in 2020, and Parker Finn shared with me that he specifically wrote the opening scene for “Smile 2” with her character in mind. He penned a letter to her along with the script pages, hoping she’d accept the role, and was thrilled when she agreed. The writer-director went on to say:

In a more conversational style, here’s how you could rephrase your sentence: I adore Drew Barrymore, and I wrote a scene especially for her, which I then sent over. Additionally, I penned a letter expressing my enthusiasm. Remarkably, she was incredibly kind and agreed to the project. It was truly a surreal experience, like living a dream, getting to collaborate with her on this.

The scene under scrutiny effectively establishes Skye Riley as a superstar and bolsters Drew Barrymore’s reputation in the horror genre, which has been steadily growing since her early roles in Stephen King adaptations like Firestarter and Cat’s Eye. She went on to play an unforgettable role in the Scream series and had a memorable stint as a cannibal zombie alongside Timothy Olyphant in the Netflix show Santa Clarita Diet, before reprising her voice role for 2022’s Scream. With a versatile career that has dramatically evolved over the past five years, it’s thrilling to see Barrymore continuing to excel in horror films.

With a surge of positive reviews propelling it, “Smile 2” made its grand entrance into cinemas this weekend, securing the top spot at the box office. If you’ve already watched it, you might want to revisit the movie, as director Parker Finn hinted that there are subtleties you may have missed during your initial viewing.

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2024-10-25 02:07