[Editor’s note: The following interview contains major spoilers for “I Know What You Did Last Summer.”]
One of many nice delights of the brand new “I Know What You Did Final Summer time” for followers of the unique is the film’s considerate, satisfying use of the primary film’s stars: Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt don’t simply make perfunctory cameo appearances, they’re integral elements of the plot. Which results in one other nice delight — and shock — when Prinze seems to be one of many film’s two killers.
For co-writer and director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, securing Prinze and Hewitt on board early was key — she ensured they have been on board with the path she wished to take earlier than even writing the script. “There have been some massive swings with the characters, so these have been conversations I had early on with them,” Robinson informed IndieWire on an upcoming episode of the Filmmaker Toolkit podcast. “I didn’t wish to run in a path that one or each of them would have disliked.”
Robinson was decided to craft variations of the characters that might really feel like a pure evolution from the place they started within the 1997 movie, and was delighted when she met Prinze in a diner and located that he was shortly on board together with his character crossing over to the darkish aspect. “It was not essentially the pitch he thought he was going to get from me, however he was instantly on board,” Robinson mentioned. The truth that Prinze was an enormous horror fanatic who always really helpful movies to Robinson throughout manufacturing was an added bonus. “I leaned on him massively throughout this course of.”
That mentioned, the greatness of Prinze’s efficiency within the movie comes from the truth that he performs his character with out a shred of self-consciousness or winking on the viewers — the revelation that he’s the killer is as tragic as it’s scary, because of the readability and depth with which Prinze delivers his climactic monologue. “He dedicated so arduous,” Robinson mentioned of Prinze in his remaining speech. “That was the very last thing we shot with him, and I used to be so greatly surprised. Every little thing was layered and deep and nuanced, and you would really feel that ache. He executed it so fantastically.”
Whereas Prinze and Hewitt’s appearances in “I Know What You Did Final Summer time” have been introduced effectively prematurely of manufacturing, Robinson and the studio stored a pair different performances by legacy solid members secret till launch. Maybe the most important shock was a cameo by Sarah Michelle Gellar; whereas the looks is totally justified as a part of a dream sequence, it however comes as a shock as a result of Gellar gave interviews publicly proclaiming how ridiculous it could be for her lifeless character to return to the franchise.
“It was a very simple misdirect as a result of neither of us have lied,” Robinson mentioned. “Individuals say, ‘Is she going to be within the film?’ and I say, ‘She’s lifeless.’ And he or she is lifeless. It was enjoyable to…obfuscate, however not lie.” Robinson had labored with Gellar on her earlier film, “Do Revenge,” so when the director was supplied “I Know What You Did Final Summer time,” Gellar was her first name. “I mentioned, ‘I sort of wish to do that. Is that this bizarre?’ And he or she was so supportive. She was like, ‘It’s important to do that.’”
One other shock cameo comes within the movie’s post-credits sequence, when Brandy returns as her character from 1998’s “I Nonetheless Know What You Did Final Summer time.” Like Gellar, Brandy had been evasive in pre-release interviews, making her look extra shocking — and, because of the way in which Robinson ties all of the movies within the collection collectively, extra satisfying. “I all the time wished Brandy within the movie, however I wished to guarantee that it felt true to the story we have been telling and the characters and the tapestry.”
The truth that Hewitt’s character had retreated into isolation because of her trauma gave Robinson the hook she wanted to convey Brandy again. “I appreciated that the occasions of this film pushed her again to her former finest good friend, and now her potential accomplice in crime,” Robinson mentioned. “The film had a motive to push you to Brandy and provide you with that prize on the finish of putting up with the expertise of ‘I Know What You Did Final Summer time.’ It offers you a enjoyable second of levity on the finish, the place you’ve gotten somebody commenting on the craziness that you just simply witnessed. It felt true and it felt proper.”
“I Know What You Did Final Summer time” is now taking part in in theaters. To be sure to don’t miss the Jennifer Kaytin Robinson episode of Filmmaker Toolkit, subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite podcast platform.
