I Know What You Did Last Summer just confirmed what I’ve suspected about the franchise all along

What really happened to Julie James and Ray Bronson has been the subject of debate for I Know What You Did Last Summer fans for many years. Did they, in fact, meet their end during those harsh and unceremonious closing scenes? Or perhaps, it is something else altogether—they might be trapped in a dream, or a nightmare too intense to look away from.

The forthcoming 2025 legacy sequel, confirmed, where Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. reprise their roles, sheds light on the mystery and confirms a long-held belief for many. Those horrific endings? They did not happen.

The endings were never canon, and that’s a good thing

I Know What You Did Last Summer Source: Sony Pictures

In a recent interview, Robinson mentioned alongside co-writer Jennifer Kaytin that no one was ever supposed to take the ending of the first two films at face value. Julie’s famous shower fright and the sequel’s under-the-bed ambush were, in fact, dream sequences.

We live “outside the canon,” Robinson noted while emphasizing the fact that Julie and Ray both still sit alive and well, willing to confront the memories once more.

It's unapologetic, yet there is something about it that fits perfectly. The franchise has always leaned into fear, paranoia, and the long-lasting effects of trauma. By adopting such a position, the narrative not only becomes more historically accurate but also remains deeply rooted in emotion.

The aftermath that Julie has to tend to is far worse than most people would dare to step into, and such clarifies why her nightmares prove to be more debilitating than mere terror-inflicting cheap thrills.

Retconning with purpose

In horror, reboots often feel like slothful solutions to problems. But it works in this scenario. It allows the sequel to survive without being weighed down by implausible character deaths that feel more like cliffhangers instead of resolutions.

Additionally, it mirrors what Scream (2022) achieved so masterfully—bringing back legacy characters in a respectful manner while leaving room for the new cast to do the groundwork.

Along with that, the 2025 movie includes new faces with Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, Tyrig Withers, and Sarah Pidgeon. The original cast isn’t just here for scene fillers—they’re tunneled deeper into a story that’s been reframed around growth, nostalgia, and unhealed wounds.

As for the trailer, they're providing some clever sleight of hand by keeping Julie and Ray apart, possibly hinting their relationship didn't come to pass or was never started. This creates potential for a more human-layered approach to the primal kill-or-be-killed dynamics.

A smarter, stronger sequel

Unlike most reboots of slasher films, I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) is unique in that it confirms a long-standing fan theory. It embraces its origins while meticulously correcting what has been problematic.

It resolves loose ends with profound and heartfelt significance. Additionally, it brings justice to Julie James and Ray Bronson the way they—and we—have always wanted.

This installment promises to release on July 18, 2025, which means that it does not simply add a new entry to an existing franchise. This installment aims to change our recollection of the franchise entirely.