The first look at the I Know What You Did Last Summer legacy sequel may have revealed a sad update about Julie and Ray’s return. The official trailer does a great job of pᴀssing the baton to a fresh generation of guilt-ridden teens who nonetheless parallel the original gang in a good way. Leading the I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel cast are Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Tyriq Withers, Jonah Hauer-King, and Sarah Pidgeon. They’re joined by legacy stars Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt, who have already been teased as powerful mentors.
While Brandy’s return in I Know What You Did Last Summer has been hinted at, just how big the role of the legacy characters will be remains unclear. The trailer seems to revisit Julie and Ray’s overused storyline, which slightly downplays Love Hewitt’s claim about her character’s exciting evolution. Additionally, the I Know What You Did Last Summer villain update is risky, especially since their connection to Ben Willis is not apparent. With so many unanswered questions, only the sequel’s release will confirm if the story does justice to the characters audiences fell in love with 28 years ago.
Julie & Ray Are Found In Very Different Settings In I Know What You Did Last Summer’s Trailer
I Know What You Did Last Summer Seems To Follow Ray & Julie’s Breakup Formula
Though the return of Love Hewitt and Prinze Jr. to I Know What You Did Last Summer‘s legacy sequel raised the film’s allure, the franchise seems to be reusing an all-too-familiar trope in their relationship. In both films, the couple struggles to connect over how they process their trauma, which leads them to be separated for the majority of the movies, only to dramatically reconcile at the end. Notably, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer ends with the two getting married after they kill Willis and his vengeful son, as Julie seems free from her Southport fear.
However, the I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel trailer suggests Ray and Julie are no longer together. In the footage, Prinze Jr.’s character appears to be still living in Southport and immediately steps in to help the new group targeted by the fisherman. Meanwhile, Julie seems to have moved, as one of the teens has to track her down, finding her working at a college. No scenes show them together or indicate they’re still married, suggesting that a new tragedy might once again be the catalyst that brings them back together.
I Know What You Did Last Summer Teased Julie & Ray’s Divorce Before The Trailer
Official Images Foreshadow The Exes’ Emotional Reunion
Signs of I Know What You Did Last Summer repeating Scream‘s divorce storyline surfaced even before the trailer for the legacy sequel dropped. Earlier in April, People released exclusive first-look pH๏τos from the upcoming summer horror film. One image — possibly of the old sweethearts’ reunion — shows Julie looking at Ray with an emotional expression, as if they haven’t seen each other in a long time or parted on painful terms. Another pH๏τo, featuring Ray standing in front of a Fourth of July ice cream stand, confirms he’s not wearing a wedding ring.
Though somewhat repeтιтive, their breakup does make sense considering the history of their relationship, as they have never quite aligned on what they want or how to cope with their shared trauma.
When director Jennifer Kaytin Robison confirmed last year that the 1998 sequel is canon, many worried that the I Know What You Did Last Summer legacy sequel made a common legacy mistake by rewriting the story. Notably, at the end of I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, the newlyweds, living happily together, are seemingly killed by the infamous fisherman. However, Hewitt and Prinze Jr.’s return confirms this could have been one of Julie’s nightmares, and a representative of her unresolved trauma, which could easily be the reason for their divorce.
Why Julie & Ray Not Being Together In I Know What You Did Last Summer Would Be A Disappointing Development
Julie & Ray’s Relationship Seems Unable To Evolve Beyond Its Initial Problems
Though somewhat repeтιтive, their break-up does make sense considering the history of their relationship, as they have never quite aligned on what they want or how to cope with their shared trauma. Ray has always been rooted in Southport and seemed content with a simpler life as a fisherman, while Julie has always been desperate to escape the town for something different. However, what’s disappointing about the legacy sequel is that the characters are hinted to struggle with the same issues that defined their relationship decades ago.
The sequel to I Know What You Did Last Summer seemed to finally give the couple a chance at happiness after breaking free from what kept them disconnected. While watching them rekindle their relationship in the legacy sequel may feel nostalgic, it’s a bit of a missed opportunity considering that their bond could have been tested with the return of past trauma and a new threat.
Sources: People
