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David Arquette on ‘Spree,’ Getting Bar Mitzvahed at 40 and the Influence of Andy Kaufman

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August 13, 2020

It has been almost 30 years since David Arquette made his on-screen debut as an actor, and not a year has gone by in which Arquette hasn’t worked in some form. A successful screenwriter, director and producer outside of his acting work, Arquette has forged such a successful career within entertainment that many have forgotten about his famous lineage and also-notable siblings.

The latest film project for David Arquette is 2020’s “Spree.” In “Spree,” main character Kurt —played by Joe Keery — dreams of sitting atop a social media empire, but for now he drives for the rideshare company Spree. Fortunately, Kurt has come up with the perfect way to go viral: #TheLesson. He’s decked out his car with cameras for a nonstop livestream full of killer entertainment, murdering his passengers. In the middle of all this madness, a stand-up comedian (played by former “SNL” cast member Sasheer Zamata) with her own viral agenda crosses Kurt’s path and becomes the only hope to put an end to his misguided carnage. “Spree” hits theaters and VOD/digital outlets on August 14, 2020, also starring Mischa Barton, Lala Kent, Frankie Grande and Kyle Mooney.

Also new and related to David Arquette is the documentary “You Cannot Kill David Arquette.” This doc is a fascinating look at Arquette’s world, recapping his life as a quickly rising actor in the 1990’s — once on the cover of Vanity Fair with Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro, Will Smith and Matthew McConaughey — to becoming a struggling actor after the “Scream” franchise and having to audition, unsuccessfully, for over a decade. Viewers are introduced to David’s true life passion, professional wrestling, as he tries to become a respected member within the wrestling community after being shunned in 2000 due to a related publicity stunt. The film features insight from Courteney Cox, siblings Patricia and Rosanna Arquette, wrestling icon (turned DDPY founder) Diamond Dallas Page and other famous faces, who all try to understand this seemingly-absurd dream of Arquette’s.

When speaking with David Arquette by phone on August 12, 2020 about “Spree” and “You Cannot Kill David Arquette,” I asked him if he had ever been bar mitzvahed. Arquette opened up about the experience of having a bar mitzvah at the Wailing Wall at the age of 40. Also on the end of Judaism, he also opened up about the influence of comedy icon Andy Kaufman on his wrestling path and latest film altogether.

More on David Arquette and “Spree” can be found here, here and here.

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