Love Hewitt, Prinze Jr. return in I Know sequel

Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. reprise their iconic roles as Julie James and Ray Bronson in I Know What You Did Last Summer, the long-awaited follow-up to the 1997 slasher classic opening in Philippine cinemas on July 30.

Directed and written by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, the film picks up 27 years after the original Southport Massacre, blending nostalgia with a modern twist as a new group of teens uncovers a deadly pattern—and turns to the original survivors for help.

“Working with Freddie and Jen was amazing,” Robinson said. “It was important to me to make sure that both of their stories felt like a continuation. We wanted to know, how would something like this affect them 27 years later? Who would they become, and how will that inform how they advise and help this younger group?”

The plot revisits the familiar theme: five friends cause a deadly accident, cover it up in panic, and soon find themselves stalked by a relentless killer. But this time, they discover their tragedy mirrors the infamous 1997 incident, drawing them to seek answers from Julie and Ray.

Love Hewitt embraced returning to the franchise, crediting Robinson’s deep appreciation for its legacy.

“Jenn is truly passionate about I Know What You Did Last Summer, and I found that to be so helpful,” she said. “She loves Julie and Ray, the story, and even the Fisherman. So, all that love has gone into this new version, and you can see it and you can feel it. I really respect Jenn and honor her for that—because horror movie fans are very specific, and they will feel her love of the franchise in this movie.”

Julie James, now a psychology professor, is portrayed as older and wiser but still fiercely determined.

“Julie is all the things that she was but more grown up and wiser,” said Love Hewitt. “She retains all the gumption and moxie she learned over those earlier stories, and now brings all that with her.”

Ray Bronson, played by Prinze Jr., has since opened a bar after separating from Julie but finds himself back in her orbit when the murders begin again.

“Jenn wasn’t going to throw away the past,” Prinze Jr. said. “She treats it with the respect it deserves, while also demonstrating what makes her such an innovative writer and director. In Jenn’s 2022 film Do Revenge, you could see the sort of sexiness that she would bring to I Know What You Did Last Summer. As a horror fan, I think horror movies are, in a unique way, rather beautiful.”

The film, distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, is expected to reignite interest in one of the most influential slasher franchises of the late ’90s and early 2000s.

Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/O83Q0ewud-k

I Know What You Did Last Summer opens nationwide on July 30. Fans are invited to share their theories and reactions using the hashtag #IKnowWhatYouDidLastSummer and tag @columbiapicph on social media. (Photo & Video Credit: Columbia Pictures)