David Arquette's horror film The Tripper comes to DVD on October 31st. That's just in time for Halloween, if you want to rush out and buy it for an evening viewing party. Arquette peppered the film with his celebrity friends, including wife Courtney Cox. Paul Reubens, the artist formerly known as Pee Wee Herman, also plays a role, and he hung out in the hallways of this year's Comic Con to tease the fans about the film and the return of Pee Wee.
Tell us about your character in The Tripper.
“Well, the movie is about a group of kids who go to an outdoor music festival and I play the promoter of the festival.”
Is it a quirky supporting role?
“I don't know the answer to that. Yes, it's a quirky supporting role, I guess.”
Is that the kind of thing you like to do?
“I kind of like to do a lot of different things. It just sort of depends on who it is and what it is and mostly who's connected to it and what's involved. This was my friend.”
What did he tell you about the character?
“Well, I read what he wrote and he said it was very open to doing whatever I wanted to do with it. He was very open to suggestions and minor modifications and stuff. It was exciting. We sort of came to what it was going to be together. It was a lot of fun.”
As a music promoter, do you get to throw in any inside references to the entertainment industry?
“Gee, that's a great idea but I didn't do that.”
You have a lot of friends in the movie. Is it a tight knit community of actors you hang out with?
“No, it's not that tight. Anyone can get in if they want.”
You pop up in so many surprising roles, is there anything that would still surprise your fans to see you do?
“I don't know. I don't think my fans are very surprisable anymore.”
I hope you don't mind if I go back to Pee Wee, because I grew up with him.
“I don't mind.”
Are you still recognized as him?
“Yes, oh yeah. Even some kids that came by the booth today.”
That character started out as a more adult oriented stand-up routine. Were you surprised it became children's entertainment?
“No, not really. That's kind of what we would kind of go for to begin with.”
Would you ever revisit him?
“Yeah. We're making plans to revisit him.”
We heard the idea of The Pee Wee Herman story for a while. Is something close to happening now?
“I think so.”
What's the concept?
“I can't say that.”
How would Pee Wee react to today's world?
“I know, but I can't tell you. That's going to be in the movie.”
Over the past 10-20 years, you had no problem shaking that role, did you?
“I don't know. I really don't know. I don't think so but I don't know. People I think think of me as that character and then they don't sometimes. I don't know.”
You showed the greatest example of positive spin in media history. Would you have any advice for today's scandal-makers?
“Oh no, I wouldn't comment on that.”
Will you be back on Dirt?
“I think so.”
Have they talked to you about a season two?
“We've talked a little bit about it. They haven't started and they haven't written it yet, so just waiting.”
Would you be up for a regular TV gig again?
“I'm working on a regular TV gig, so we'll see what happens with it.”
What else is in the works for you?
“A television series but we haven't - I don't know what it is yet.”
