All You Need to Know About The Slasher’s New Life with Returning Cast

The 1990s brought us iconic shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Party of Five, which introduced two stars who later headlined a burgeoning horror franchise. Although the series didn’t earn critical acclaim, it did kickstart several acting careers. The first movie, 1997’s I Know What You Did Last Summer, played with typical horror tropes. The plot revolved around a group of high school students—Jennifer Love Hewitt, Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Ryan Phillipe—who hit a pedestrian and tried to cover it up. Inevitably, someone witnessed their crime, leading a mysterious figure with a hook (played by Muse Watson) to torment them.

The movie’s success led to a sequel in 1998, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, featuring Hewitt, Prinze, Watson, and new cast members like Brandy and Mekhi Phifer. In this follow-up, Hewitt’s character continued to be terrorized by Watson’s character. For fans of the original films, exciting developments have emerged regarding a new reboot that will serve as a legacy sequel to the first two movies.

According to Deadline, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. are expected to return. However, Prinze mentioned to Us Weekly, “Nothing’s a lock until there’s ink on paper, until the contract’s signed, but I’m definitely talking to them.” Muse Watson’s involvement hasn’t been confirmed yet. New cast members will include Camila Mendes, Madelyn Cline, Jonah Hauer-King, Tyriq Withers, and Sarah Pidgeon.

Brandy, who appeared in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, expressed her surprise about the reboot in a conversation with Hollywood Reporter, saying she “didn’t know Sony was putting that together.” She found the development “interesting” and indicated that she might be open to returning to the franchise, clarifying, “I’m not pulling a fast one on you” for PR purposes.

It’s worth noting that the franchise’s third film, 2006’s I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer, introduced a new cast and was released directly to video. The movie appears to be excluded from current reboot plans. Additionally, a 2021 Prime Video/Amazon series titled I Know What You Did Last Summer aired for one season before being canceled, and it will likely be ignored in the upcoming film.

Deadline has revealed that the reboot script is written by Leah McKendrick, with additional contributions from Kaytin Robinson and Sam Lansky. Produced by Sony and distributed by Columbia Pictures, the project also has the original franchise producer, Neal Moritz, back on board.

While specifics about the new plot remain undisclosed, it is expected to feature a young cast at the forefront. The storyline will likely involve the new group encountering a gruesome event and facing the consequences a year later. Fans are hopeful that this film will differentiate itself from previous installments by offering fresh elements to attract contemporary audiences.

The reboot is currently slated for release on July 18, 2025.

In the absence of a trailer for the reboot, it’s worth recalling Jennifer Love Hewitt’s memorable “What are you waiting for?” scene from the original film, directed by a contest-winning kid, as she revealed to Us Weekly. This bizarre scene has become iconic in its own right, and fans hope this quirky moment will be acknowledged in the reboot.

Fans eagerly await to see how this new chapter will unfold.

Source: Deadline, Us Weekly, Hollywood Reporter