Freddie Prinze Jr. Reveals Shocking Twist: Ray & Julie Won’t Lead in ‘I Know’ Legacy Sequel!

The iconic ’90s slasher franchise ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ is set to make a comeback on July 18, 2025. Fans will be thrilled to see Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. reprise their roles as Julie James and Ray Bronson from the original film and its sequel. However, the focus of the new movie won’t be on Julie and Ray, as they’ll serve more as legacy characters supporting a fresh cast of faces.

In an interview with the Scale Talk Podcast with David Miniatures, Freddie Prinze Jr. shared details about the new direction of the franchise. “[Director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson] just took such good care of Love’s character, Julie James, and my character, Ray Bronson,” Prinze Jr. said. “They’re not the leads of the movie by any stretch of the imagination.’ That wouldn’t make sense—especially considering where their stories left off. It’s a new generation’s turn, and Robinson has seamlessly woven us into their story.”

Prinze Jr. also praised the film’s script, adding, “[Kaytin Robinson] made them such a powerful pushing forward of the other cast. It’s not like, ‘Oh, here’s the Ray and Julie movie that we deserve.’ That doesn’t even make sense. That guy’s dead. So it has to be new generation. And the way she sort of laces us in there with them is just beautifully done. The script is wonderfully written.”

The fresh faces joining the franchise include Billy Campbell, Chase Sui Wonders, Madelyn Cline, Sarah Pidgeon, Tyriq Withers, Jonah Hauer-King, Lola Tung, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Austin Nichols, and Gabbriette. Together, they’ll carry the torch of terror while Julie and Ray provide a meaningful connection to the original films.

The first I Know What You Did Last Summer debuted in 1997, directed by Jim Gillespie and written by Kevin Williamson, the mastermind behind Scream. It was based on Lois Duncan’s novel and became a defining film of the late ’90s slasher resurgence.

The movie spawned two sequels: I Still Know What You Did Last Summer in 1998 and I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer in 2006. However, Hewitt and Prinze Jr. only appeared in the first sequel, making their return in this 2025 installment their first in 27 years.

With a mix of returning legacy stars and a new generation of talent, I Know What You Did Last Summer aims to honor its roots while creating something fresh and exciting for fans of the franchise.

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