Freddie Prinze Jr. has openly discussed the challenges he faced during the filming of the original I Know What You Did Last Summer, a breakout slasher early in his career. Despite playing a central role as Ray Bronson, the steadfast boyfriend of final girl Julie James, Prinze was initially hesitant to revisit Southport for the trilogy’s third installment. His previous experiences on set, including strained relations with director Jim Gillespie, contributed to this reluctance.
“I remember when they were first talking about this movie, I was really hesitant to even be involved,”
—Freddie Prinze Jr., Actor
Director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson’s Role in Convincing Prinze
What ultimately persuaded Prinze to return was his friendship with director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, who personally reached out to discuss the new project. Initially unsure, Prinze agreed to a breakfast meeting where Robinson laid out her vision for Southport in 2025. Her pitch resonated with him, especially her approach to blending legacy characters with a fresh, younger cast.
“I loved the idea so much. I loved what she did with Ray and Julie and at the same time, gave this new cast the helm. But we’re not cameos. I don’t want anyone to think that. Ray and Julie are major driving forces in this movie, and you somehow get time for the other people as well. Jennifer did an amazing job. Her vision of this world, which she kind of had to recreate taking from the first two movies, is so spot on from the original vision that she pitched me and that never happens.”
—Freddie Prinze Jr., Actor
An Engaging Story Dealing with Trauma and Character Depth
Prinze was pleasantly surprised by how prominent the returning characters were in the new film. Contrary to his expectations of minimal screen time, his character Ray Bronson and Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Julie James were fully developed and integral to the plot. The film also explores how trauma affects people differently, a narrative choice driven by Robinson and co-writer Sam Lansky.
“This was such a fun movie to make. The main reason for me was that Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, the director and co-writer, and the main writer, Sam Lansky, put so much thought and care into what happened to Julie and Ray. Their story talks a lot about trauma and how the same trauma can affect two people in very, very different ways if it’s not dealt with properly.”
—Freddie Prinze Jr., Actor
Jennifer Kaytin Robinson’s Talent for Assembling the Perfect Cast
Robinson’s directorial expertise, showcased previously in Netflix’s Do Revenge, played a significant role in making the project successful. Prinze praises her ability to secure the right actors, highlighting that she fights for the talent she believes in to build a cohesive ensemble.
“Jennifer Robinson can cast a movie better than anyone out there.”
—Freddie Prinze Jr., Actor
Reflecting on his growth, Prinze contrasted his earlier inexperience with his current skills, recognizing how much he has developed since his first role at age 20.
“This cast is so good, everyone’s so perfect, and when she [Robinson] wants you, she fights for you. She got who she wanted in this movie. I’m 49 now. It’s not hard for me to say I didn’t love all the work I did when I was younger. I wasn’t as good as I am now. When I did the first, I Know What You Did Last Summer, I was 20 years old, just turning 21. I had no experience, maybe a movie and a half under my belt, and was literally learning on the job. I was the least experienced of all the other actors in the movie. They were all child actors except me. It was very difficult for me to keep up.”
—Freddie Prinze Jr., Actor
Admiration for the New Generation of Actors
On returning to set in 2025, Prinze observed notable changes, especially in the camaraderie and kindness among the younger cast members. He contrasted this with the competitive atmosphere of his generation, shaped by a smaller, more cutthroat industry.
“When I saw this cast and they’re a little older than I was, but still young, the level at which they would execute these scenes… I would go and watch scenes that I wasn’t even in because they were so good. Off camera, I would see them, and the camaraderie was so tight. They really leaned on each other and depended on each other. On I Know What You Did Last Summer, I had some of that with Ryan Phillippe. I would kind of lean on him a little bit when I had a tough day on set. They all had that naturally.”
—Freddie Prinze Jr., Actor
“My generation was more competitive because there weren’t as many movies getting made. There were only a few studios making 15 movies a year. Now there are all these channels and all this other stuff, and people are making movies 365 days a year. It was really competitive, and I was almost surprised and shocked by how kind they were to one another. They were shocked that it wasn’t like that back in the day. It was just my experience. You might talk to someone else, like, ‘No, it was great.’ But in my experience, it was a lot more competition, and it was more cutthroat.”
—Freddie Prinze Jr., Actor
The Influence of His Daughter on Casting Awareness
Prinze credits his daughter for introducing him to some of his talented young co-stars, notably Madelyn Cline, whose performance impressed him during their shared scenes despite the emotionally demanding circumstances.
“I had to research everybody when I would see people get cast and look at their work. My daughter goes, ‘Wait, you guys cast Maddie [Madelyn Cline]? Dad, she’s on Outer Banks.’ And I say, ‘Well, what’s Outer Banks?’ I watched, and she was good, but I didn’t know how good. We had a scene together, it was my first day on set, and she had to maintain a certain emotional level for the context of the scene for 12 hours. She did it with such elegance and such grace. I would get exhausted. After three takes, I’ll be like, ‘We don’t have it. What the fuck are you going to do?’ But she was just so powerful. I called my daughter, and I was like, ‘Yeah, you were right. She’s the shit.’”
—Freddie Prinze Jr., Actor
Highlighting Key Scenes with Jennifer Love Hewitt
Prinze shares enthusiasm for the scenes he filmed with Jennifer Love Hewitt, recognizing their quality as some of the best work they have done together throughout the franchise.
“I’m so freaking proud of this movie. The first scene you see with Love and I, I think is the best scene that we have done together on camera in any of the movies. And the last scene that we have together is my second favorite scene that we’ve ever done in any of the movies, so I’m really pleased with the way it came out and really proud to show people what we can do.”
—Freddie Prinze Jr., Actor
Significance of Prinze’s Return and What to Expect
After more than two decades, the return of Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt to their roles as Ray and Julie brings a new depth to their characters while anchoring the narrative alongside fresh faces. This blend provides fans with rich continuity and new energy. Prinze’s experience and recent reflections hint at a thoughtful handling of legacy and trauma, promising an intense and emotionally charged installment. I Know What You Did Last Summer 3 is currently showing in theaters.
For readers interested in a deeper dive, FANGORIA #28 offers exclusive insights featuring contributions from Freddie Prinze Jr., Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Meredith Borders, exploring the making of this highly anticipated sequel.
