Freddie Prinze Jr. revealed today he will be reprising his part in the sequel to Sony Pictures’s popular thriller, I Know What You Did Last Summer, which will provide fond memories for fans of the early 90’s teen slasher phenomenon. Sony Pictures has expanded their franchise again with yet another series; Prinze Jr. will be returning to the series for the third time, this time portraying Ray Bronson, a role he played in the 1997 hit, as well as the film I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998).
Background: The Legacy of I Know What You Did Last Summer
The late-90’s horror movie genre’s I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), based on the month combat Lois Duncan’s 1973 novel, has reached near cult status. Jim Gillespie directed the film about a group of teens, Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt), Ray Bronson (Freddie Prinze Jr.), Barry Cox (Ryan Phillippe), and Helen Shivers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), who had an accident involving a fisherman with the car. The group returned to their homes then, one year later, began receiving notices from a strange character who claimed to have knowledge of the situation, thus making their lives even more dire–the murderer with the hook unleashed chaos on these teens.
The film was a commercial hit, which resulted in the 1998 sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. The sequel brought back Prinze Jr. and Hewitt, along with new characters, as the mystery of the story unfolded and the stakes escalated for its protagonists. In 2006, there came a third film entitled I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer, but this time following an entirely different cast—which, of course, did not have the original stars—and never received quite as good a review.
Sequel Announcement: Original Cast Members to Return
A new movie for I Know What You Did Last Summer is on the cards; this movie will be a direct continuation of the original movies made during 1997 and 1998, making it highly significant for the fans of the franchise that grew up with it, finally confirming the return of Freddie Prinze Jr. Jennifer Love Hewitt has not been confirmed, but she’s in negotiations to reprise her Julie James role. This will even further solidify the sequel as directly connected to the original movies, which is sure to draw eyeballs if both actors return.
Written/directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Do Revenge), the new movie is presumably going to mix a few legacy characters with newer talent, similar to what has happened with the reboots of Scream and Halloween. Details about the plot remain scarce, but per Musers, the film “will acknowledge events in the original films,” though it does not reveal if the new film is a direct continuation or a “requel,” short for reboot-sequel.
New Cast and Production Updates
Joining Prinze Jr. for the sequel are new cast members that include Madelyn Cline (OuterBanks), Tyriq Withers (Atlanta), and Jonah Hauer-King (The Little Mermaid). Although Riverdale’s Camila Mendes was also attached to a leading role, her scheduling conflicts saw her dropped, reportedly with Bodies Bodies Bodies star Chase Sui Wonders in talks to replace her.
As part of a recent revival in classic slasher franchises, the movie is primed to cash in on continued successfrom a whole spate of horror films revisiting their original characters in style, much like Scream and Halloween have done recently. The release date for the sequel to I Know What You Did Last Summer will be July 18, 2025, so there is plenty of time for the fans to go back and review the previous films.
Legacy Impact: A Nostalgic Return to 90s Horror
The return of Freddie Prinze Jr. marks something huge for the franchise I Know What You Did Last Summer, offering waves of nostalgia for the fans. It occupies a special place within the slasher horror genre, comfortably sitting next to the other popular ’90s horrors such as Scream. For so many, the character Ray Bronson by Prinze Jr. became iconic, so his return is certain to excite new and longtime fans of the franchise.
The original I Know What You Did Last Summer and its sequel provided much of the definition of the teen slasher formula that made a comeback in the late 1990s, along with Scream by Wes Craven. Suspense, teen drama, and brutal killings combined into a psychological plot twist that had audiences on edge. With the success of modern horror sequels that have revived old franchises using contemporary story-telling methods, much is expected from this new movie to live up to the ones that came before.
Conclusion: What’s Next?
Though the complete cast and plot details are not out yet, confirmation regarding the involvement of Freddie Prinze Jr. does bring an element of authenticity and excitement regarding the venture. Slated to release in 2025, with production updates still trickling in, fans of this franchise will have much to look forward to in how the next chapter unfolds. Whether Jennifer Love Hewitt returns or not, this movie will mix new talent with the legacy of its original cast to ensure the reheat of the chilling saga of I Know What You Did Last Summer.
