Everything We're Hoping to See in the New I Know What You Did Last Summer
More than 25 years after its blood-soaked debut, I Know What You Did Last Summer is making its big-screen return—and the anticipation is real. Directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Do Revenge) and featuring the return of legacy characters like Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Ray Bronson (Freddie Prinze Jr.), the upcoming revival is finally offering fans a proper continuation. A reckoning. And, a potential reinvention.
While the trailers have been carefully vague, they’ve also teased just enough to get fans theorizing about who’s back, who’s next, and who knows more than they’re letting on. But if this franchise is truly ready for its second life, here’s what we’re hoping to see when the hook comes swinging.
Iconic Chase Scenes (You Know It's What We're Here For)
Let’s not mince words: I Know What You Did Last Summer gave horror one of its most unforgettable chase sequences with Helen Shivers’ doomed sprint through the town of Southport. Sarah Michelle Gellar turned a beauty queen’s slow unraveling into pure genre gold—tension, distance, grit, and a tragically timed marching band. So yes, expectations are high.
The good news? The trailers already look like the new film isn’t shying away from the thrill of the chase. There’s real potential for nail-biting cat-and-mouse moments, and if done right, they could match—or at least pay respectful homage to—the raw panic of Helen’s final run.
Madelyn Cline’s character, in particular, seems primed for a major sequence. We don’t know if she’ll make it out of this one, but from the glimpses we’ve seen, she’s definitely trying—and we’re praying she gets a better outcome than Croaker Queen royalty.
An Elaborate Mystery
The original film may have been more about shock than sleuthing, but if this revival wants to hook a new generation (pun very much intended), it needs to give us a proper mystery.
We’re talking multiple suspects, mysterious side characters, and enough red herrings to leave us second-guessing every decision. And from what the trailers have teased, it looks like one of the new core characters may be involved in the killings themselves, or at least have some knowledge of what’s going on. Which is promising to say the least.
A whodunit structure—especially one that twists the original premise in a new way—could elevate this from simple slasher nostalgia to something far more compelling. Give us secrets. Give us timelines that don’t quite add up. Give us the satisfaction of figuring something out just one scene before the characters do. And of course, surprise us with something we never saw coming.
A Karla Mention (We're Begging)
We love Julie. We really do. But while Helen continues to get her long-overdue flowers, we’d like to gently remind everyone that Karla (played by Brandy Norwood) was also that girl.
She was the final girl in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer; she gave us charisma, banter, and believable fear, and she survived that insane island hotel massacre. The least we could get is an update. A throwaway line. A phone call. Anything.
There’s no confirmation that Brandy is returning—but even just a nod to her character would be a smart way to show that this revival hasn’t forgotten its roots. She deserves her legacy. So let’s give it to her!
Real Connective Tissue to the First Two Films
Yes, Julie and Ray are back—and that alone is huge. But if this film wants to rise above the typical “legacy sequel” formula, it needs to build something meaningful out of that return. We don’t want cameos. We want continuity.
Ideally, the killer’s motive ties directly back to the events of the first two films—even if it’s something subtle. Maybe someone else knew what they did. Maybe the accident wasn’t as random as it seemed. Maybe the past isn’t just catching up—it’s been planning this for years.
We already know Julie is being pulled back into the nightmare, but how and why are the real questions. Is she being targeted? Lured in? Set up? If the story threads connect in a way that reframes our understanding of what came before—while still standing on its own—it’ll elevate the entire franchise.
Plus, it’s a great opportunity to explore themes of guilt, legacy, and how trauma lingers long after the final credits roll. After all, you can only bury the truth for so long.
Potential for More
If this works, we’re going to want more. And a smart horror revival doesn’t just satisfy—it leaves you with questions, possibilities, and characters you’re not ready to let go of.
That doesn’t mean we need a fake-out post-credits moment (like the first two) or a cliffhanger. But subtle openings? Yes, please. A character left behind. A thread left dangling. A survivor who knows more than they let on. These kinds of storytelling choices give the world room to expand—whether in another movie, a miniseries, or something we haven’t even imagined yet.
Final Hook
I Know What You Did Last Summer has always had a slightly different energy from other '90s slashers—more atmosphere than irony, more guilt than gore. If the new film can capture that while evolving the story for a modern audience, it could bring something fresh to the revival trend. Here’s hoping the killer’s got more than just a hook this time—they’ve got a plan.
I Know What You Did Last Summer slashes into theaters on July 18, 2025.