The iconic slasher series I Know What You Did Last Summer is returning to screens this summer with a sequel that will see a new set of characters hunted by the Fisherman. The new I Know What You Did Last Summer will see Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddy Prinze Jr. reprise their roles, along with a new cast to play the next generation of teens stalked by a killer. Though the new I Know What You Did Last Summer teases a similar plot, the new film seems to be full of surprises.

In addition to the return of the original’s surviving characters, the new trailer for I Know What You Did Last Summer shows that the Fisherman is back, and he is out for blood. The fishhook-wielding killer has become a big part of the 1997 movie’s draw as well as his return in the 1998 sequel, so it makes sense that the new film would want to bring back the recognizable killer. However, given Ben Willis’s demise in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, it will be interesting to see how the new movie plans to bring the character back.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 2025 Is Likely Using A Fisherman Copycat Killer

The Killer Seems To Know Southport’s History

The sequel’s trailer has already teased the return of the Fisherman and his hook, but the ending of the series’ previous movie and the time gap make it unlikely that Ben Willis could return as the killer. Instead, it seems more likely that the new I Know What You Did Last Summer will opt for a copycat killer using the history of Southport against the lead characters. This approach has become more common in recent reboots and remakes and can especially be seen in the newer Scream movies.

Likewise, because the 2025 sequel seems to be following largely the same plot beats, the killer could be a different person but still have similar motives. With the main characters attempting to cover up an accident from their past, the killer could take the opportunity to hearken back to a dark part of their town’s history. Especially knowing that some original characters will make their return, the movie could even incorporate some distant connection to the previous movies to fill out the new Fisherman’s motives.

Could Ben Willis Still Be The Fisherman In I Know What You Did Last Summer 2025?

He Was Thought To Be ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, But Killers Can Come Back

A different possible theory about the idenтιтy of the Fisherman in the new sequel is that it could, in fact, be Ben Willis again. Ben Willis makes appearances in the 1997 movie, its 1998 sequel, and even in the poorly-received 2006 direct-to-video sequel, so it would not be entirely unheard of for him to come back again. We know that I Still Know What You Did Last Summer sequel is canon within the world of the 2025 movie, which means that Ben Willis should be ᴅᴇᴀᴅ in the present day, unless the movie reveals something new.

The 2006 stand-alone sequel chose to combat this by bringing Ben Willis back as an unᴅᴇᴀᴅ killer. It is unclear how or why the supernatural return occurred, so if he does come back, the new movie will need to explain his return in another way. What’s more, given how poorly I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer fared, the supernatural angle may not be the most popular. Thus, while it is possible that Ben Willis himself could come back, I Know What You Did Last Summer would have to come up with a great explanation to avoid angering audiences.