What We’d Like to See in I Know What You Did Last Summer 3
It’s already been confirmed that a third entry of Sony’s I Know What You Did Last Summer is finally coming, with Jennifer Kaytin Robinson directing the film and a script penned by Leah McKendrick.
Then, even more recently, we learned that the next film found its fresh, next-gen cast consisting of Camila Mendes, Madelyn Cline, Sarah Pidgeon, Tyriq Withers, and Jonah Hauer-King, with confirmation that survivors from the first two entries are still in talks to return. So now that the film has gained some major traction, here are a few things we’re currently hoping to see transpire in the next entry chapter of the beloved slasher franchise.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) | Sony PicturesPlenty of Action for the Original Survivors
In the upcoming I Know What You Did Last Summer film, fans are clearly hoping for a deep and engaging storyline for the original survivors, Julie and Ray (played by Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr.). After the events of the first film and the subsequent sequel, the franchise’s returning audience genuinely deserves to witness how these characters evolved and coped with the trauma they experienced.
A meaty plot that delves into their emotional struggles, tumultuous relationships, and how the past comes back to haunt them would essentially satisfy our desire for character development. And if Scream (2022) taught us anything, we now know it’s possible to merge a next-gen cast with the original icons seamlessly.
A Callback to the Underrated Sequel (and Brandy's Fan-Favorite Role)
One aspect that fans are strongly anticipating in the new film is a callback to the underrated sequel and the character Brenda (played by Brandy), who narrowly survived the events of I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. Exploring how her character (and her relationship with both Julie and Ray) has fared since the last encounter with the fisherman could provide an interesting link between the previous films and a nice sense of franchise nostalgia for the third official installment.
At the very least, it’s a solid opportunity to bring closure to fans’ looming continuity concerns, which would also serve as a full-circle moment for those who enjoyed the campy slasher sequel.
Another Toxic Friend Group
One of the defining elements of the I Know What You Did Last Summer franchise is the dynamic of the friend group and the secrets they keep. The first film introduced a series of unique interpersonal relationships among the core four friends (with an emphasis on conflicts and subservient social dynamics) and the sequel felt like it was a natural follow-up to the surviving pair’s experiences with growing apart.
That being said, fans are definitely hoping to see a new group of characters with complex relationships, hidden agendas, and conflicts reminiscent of the original film. A semi-toxic friend group adds layers of tension and intrigue to the plot, keeping each interaction fresh and sometimes, necessarily chaotic.
A Revamped, Scarier Version of the Fisherman
Last but not least, we’re interested in seeing the third film create a somewhat scarier version of the iconic fisherman who terrorized the characters in the previous films. Updating the ways he’s revealed, his Michael Myers pace, motivations, and general methods of killing could inject new life into the franchise and amp up the scares for modern audiences.
That’s not to suggest that the original didn’t offer a legendary, menacing presence — but it’s time to put more respect on the fisherman’s status as a genre icon, and to do that, we might need to kick things up a notch.
