The legacy sequel has become a popular Hollywood move in recent years. Instead of rebooting an old franchise, you simply remake the original film, add a few new cast members, and then bring back an original star or two to pass the torch.
It capitalizes on the nostalgia factor, while at the same time setting the new batch of characters up for additional sequels. Scream has done it, and so did the Star Wars and Jurassic Park franchises. I Know What You Did Last Summer is the latest franchise to enter the legacy sequel chat, and sure enough, it has decided to bring back an original cast member.
Freddie Prinze, Jr. will return as Roy Bronson
Freddie Prinze, Jr. will be returning to the franchise as Roy Bronson, according to Deadline. Prinze was one of the headlining stars of the 1997 original, as well as the 1998 sequel, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. The outlet also reported that Prinze's co-star, Jennifer Love Hewitt, is in talks to reprise her role as Julie James. The actress has yet to finalize her deal, though.
Freddie Prinze, Jr. was one of the pivotal teen actors of the 1990s and early 2000s, and the original I Know What You Did Last Summer serves as his breakthrough film. Coincidentally, Prinze would go on to marry one of the other film's breakout stars, Sarah Michelle Gellar. Given that Gellar's character was killed off in the first film, however, it's unlikely she will return.
The film will ignore the recent TV series adaptation
The details on the new film are sparse, but it will be separate from the recent TV series of the same name. The series, which rebooted the original premise, was canceled after only one season. It was widely agreed upon by fans and critics that it failed to update the film in a satisfying manner.
The upcoming sequel, however, will boast a talented cast of newcomers alongside Prinze, including Tyriq Withers, Jonah Haur-King, Chase Sui Wonders, Madelyn Cline, and Sarah Pidgeon. Are you excited to watch it?