Freddie Prinze Jr. was close to rejecting the opportunity to reprise his role in the I Know What You Did Last Summer franchise until a director’s compelling pitch convinced him otherwise. The 49-year-old actor, who first gained fame as Ray Bronson nearly 30 years ago, had significant doubts about returning to the horror series, fearing it might not offer meaningful character development or could just rely on nostalgia.
He shared that his hesitation was rooted in uncertainty over how the filmmakers would treat his character and whether the project would provide a creative narrative. Prinze Jr. also reflected on his past experience with the franchise, including creative challenges and inconsistent production quality that fueled his skepticism.
Director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson’s Persuasive Vision
The new film’s co-writer and director, Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, faced the difficult task of convincing Prinze Jr. to return. She anticipated his hesitations and carefully presented a vision that directly addressed his concerns about character growth and storytelling depth.
Prinze Jr. recalled how Robinson personally reached out, telling him,
“I Know you’re gonna say no, but let me just pitch you my version of this movie.”
Her detailed explanation centered on exploring the long-term psychological effects of the original trauma on Ray and Julie James, portrayed by Jennifer Love Hewitt, rather than treating them as static characters.
This approach to the characters’ emotional journeys resonated deeply with Prinze Jr. He noted,
“There was so much thought into what [Julie and Ray] had gone through, trauma wise, and how they both dealt with it differently, that it gave them great motivations in the movie.”
He also praised Robinson’s creativity, saying,
“Once I kind of heard that, before the script was even written, I was like, ‘Wow, [Jen’s] idea is really, really good.’ She had some really cool [expletive] in there.”
Commitment to Meaningful Roles for Returning Characters
A critical factor in Prinze Jr.’s decision was Robinson’s guarantee that both Ray and Julie would be integral to the story, rather than superficial appearances meant only to appease longtime fans. He emphasized,
“They’re not just cameos in the movie. They’re major characters. I don’t want people to think they’re getting screwed and just like, ‘Oh, they’re only gonna be in one scene.’ It’s not like that. They took great care of these characters.”
The new film follows five friends haunted by a mysterious killer after causing a fatal car accident one year earlier. As Ray and Julie realize that history might be repeating itself, they play a crucial role in unraveling the mystery and confronting their unresolved trauma. This storyline allows the movie to explore deeper themes of guilt, survival, and healing, aligning with Prinze Jr.’s preference for scripts with substance.
Prinze Jr. explained that though Ray and Julie cope with their past in very different ways, their relationship and current struggles provide a fresh and engaging narrative. He assured audiences that the characters’ arcs would reach a satisfying conclusion.
Confidence in the Script and Reunion with Jennifer Love Hewitt
The quality of Robinson’s screenplay stood out to Prinze Jr., giving him confidence that he had not felt with earlier franchise projects. In the past, he often experienced uncertainty about scripts and tension on set, but this time, he felt assured from the start. He told Us Weekly,
“I’ve had experiences where I wasn’t confident in the script and was very nervous on set and hoping that we could make a change here and there because I thought it would help the scene. That really wasn’t the case with this.”
Another highlight for Prinze Jr. was reuniting with Jennifer Love Hewitt. He described their first scene together in the new film as
“the best scene [Jennifer] and I have done on camera, period, in all three movies,”
and predicted fans would strongly connect with the authenticity of their performances.
The new I Know What You Did Last Summer movie is scheduled for release on Friday, July 18, marking Prinze Jr.’s significant horror return and inviting audiences to revisit the beloved franchise with a deeper and more mature perspective on its characters and story.
