Wayans also tells EW about some “dope” cameos planned for his upcoming return to the franchise, also titled “Scary Movie.”

Marlon Wayans recounts James Van Der Beek’s Dawson’s Creek cameo in Scary Movie: ‘James was cool as hell’

Wayans also tells EW about some "dope" cameos planned for his upcoming return to the franchise, also titled "Scary Movie."

By Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

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March 18, 2026 6:13 p.m. ET

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James Van Der Beek in 'Scary Movie'. Credit:

Dimension Films

The *Scary Movie* franchise is loaded with hilarious examples of stunt casting, from Carmen Electra skewering Drew Barrymore's iconic *Scream* cold open to Lindsay Lohan showing up as Lindsay Lohan in *Scary Movie 5*.

But few hit as hard now as the late James Van Der Beek's brief *Dawson's Creek*-inspired cameo early in the flagship entry. Ahead of the first trailer for the franchise's raucous sixth installment, also titled *Scary Movie*, star and co-writer Marlon Wayans took ** back to the day on set when Dawson Leery came to play.

"James was cool as hell for even doing it," Wayans says of the actor, who died last month after battling colorectal cancer. "He was huge on *Dawson's Creek*. He was like, 'Oh, I'm game,' and I was like, 'bet.'"

Marlon Wayans and Anna Faris in 'Scary Movie'.

Dimension Films

The first *Scary Movie* hit theaters in 2000. The year leading up to the premiere was indeed a huge one for Van Der Beek, who debuted as the dreamy Dawson in 1998. *Dawson's Creek*'s premiere* *rocketed the series to success, becoming the fledgling WB's most-watched show and massively ratcheting up anticipation for seasons 2 and 3, which aired as *Scary Movie* was in production and readying for its own premiere.

The original *Scary Movie* cast wasn't without stars, thanks to Electra and actors like Shannon Elizabeth and Lochlyn Monroe in the cast — not to mention *In Living Color* star (and Marlon's brother) Keenan Ivory Wayans in the director's chair. But Marlon says Van Der Beek's cameo added something irreplaceable.

"It was quick, but the audience loved it. 'Oh! Wrong, wrong, wrong set!' And he just leaves," Wayans recalls, reliving the scene. "It was just the coolest moment."

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Van Der Beek pops into the film Dawson-style during a steamy scene between Anna Faris and John Abrahams.

Though *Scary Movie* makes good on the promise of its title in lampooning some of the era's biggest horror films, other genres weren't safe either. In the case of Faris and Abrahams' characters and their interrupted love scene, it was *American Pie*, which their costar Shannon Elizabeth appeared in the year before.

Just as Cindy (Faris) and Bobby (Abrahams) are about to get down to it, the *Dawson's Creek *theme song, Paula Cole's "I Don't Want to Wait," begins to softly play as Van Der Beek climbs into Cindy's window. "The heck?" he says, looking around in confusion before jumping down. "Wrong set."

Marlon Wayans in the new 'Scary Movie'.

Quantrell Colbert

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Wayans promises similar cameos are set for the upcoming *Scary Movie* "rebooquel," but he doesn't want to "sell the movie" around them.

The sixth installment returns Marlon and his brother Shawn to the fold after their departure before *Scary Movie 3*, and reteams them with series stars Faris and Regina Hall, who appeared through *Scary Movie 4*.

"I like keeping those a secret because to me, a cameo is like a little golden egg, or a little nugget, a little gift that you get on top, or a cherry on top of a dope-ass sundae," Marlon says. He won't name names but is "really excited" to unveil the mystery stars to the world when *Scary Movie *arrives in theaters June 5.

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Source: “EW Comedy”