Sarah Michelle Gellar has heard all the fan chatter about her possible reprising her role as Helen Shivers in the upcoming I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot.
As the film nears production, the actress made it known that she will not be starring in the upcoming horror film, although her husband Freddie Prinze Jr. is among the main cast.
“I’m dead,” Gellar said emphatically. People, in reference to his character, who died in the now classic 1997 horror film.
While Gellar won’t star in the reboot, she believes she’ll be involved in some way behind the scenes, considering her best friend, Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, is writing and directing the reboot, along with her husband reprising his role as Ray Bronson.
“My best friend (Jennifer Kaytin Robinson) directs it, so we joke that I have an unofficial job, which is continuity,” she explained. “So I’m always the one saying, ‘Well, that would happen or that wouldn’t happen with those characters,’ so I have kind of an unofficial job title.”
Sarah Michelle Gellar, 47, has stopped talking and announced that she will not be returning for the upcoming reboot of the slasher classic I Know What You Did Last Summer. She played Helen Shivers in the 1997 horror film.
“I’m dead,” Gellar (second right) told People, explaining why she won’t reprise her role as Helen Shiver in the upcoming horror film, while her husband Freddie Prize Jr. (left) has signed on to return as Ray Bronson; Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ryan Phillippe also appear in the photo.
The original film, which was loosely based on Lois Duncan’s 1973 novel of the same name, focused on four teenage friends, who are stalked by a hook-wielding killer a year after covering up a car accident that allegedly killed a man.
In addition to Gellar and Prinze Jr., the cast also featured Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ryan Phillippe in the lead roles, as well as Johnny Galecki, Bridgette Wilson and the late Anne Heche, who passed away in August 2022 at the age of 53.
Directed by Jim Gillespie, working from a script by Kevin Williamson, I Know What You Did Last Summer became a hit among moviegoers, grossing $125.3 million at the global box office on a budget of $17 million. dollars.
Trying to build on the success of the first film, the sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998) dropped just over a year later during November, with Hewitt, Prinze Jr. and Watson reprising their roles.
The trio were joined in the cast for the follow-up by newcomers: Brandy, Mekhi Phifer, Bill Cobbs, Jennifer Esposito, Matthew Settle, John Hawkes, Jeffrey Combs and Benjamin Brown, among others.
Danny Cannon directed and Trey Callaway wrote the script, but the sequel ultimately flopped at the box office, earning only $40 million after spending between $25 and $65 million on production costs.
Almost a decade later, the third installment of the franchise I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer (2006) was released, but it lacked star power since it didn’t feature any of the actors from the first two films, making it a independent sequel.
Along with Prinze Jr., 48, leading lady Hewitt, 45, is confirmed to reprise her role as Julie James, who appeared in the first two ’90s films.
The legacy sequel, which will combine both characters from the original film with younger characters played by a new cast, was first announced in February 2023.
Rounding out the new cast are Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Haur-King, Sarah Pidgeo and Tyriq Withers, according to Variety. Camila Mendes was initially cast in the film, but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.
“Jen has assembled an incredible cast and I am so happy and excited for all of them,” Gellar told People about the reboot. “I’ll be there with moral support behind the camera.”
The original film, which was loosely based on Lois Duncan’s 1973 novel of the same name, focused on four teenage friends who are stalked by a hook-wielding killer a year after covering up a car crash that allegedly killed a man.
“My best friend (Jennifer Kaytin Robinson) directs it, so we joke that I have an unofficial job, which is that I’m continuity,” Gellar joked.
I Know What You Did Last Summer was a hit with viewers, grossing $125.3 million at the worldwide box office against a budget of $17 million; Pictured are star Prinze Jr., Hewitt, Gellar and Phillippe in the original.
Trying to build on the success of the first film, the sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998) dropped just over a year later in November 1998, with Hewitt, Prinze Jr. and Watson reprising their roles, but it flopped. at the box office and grossed $40 million.
“Well, I mean, my husband’s in the movie, my best friend wrote and directed it, (so) I think there’s a good chance it’s going to go to that premiere,” Gellar said of her unofficial support for the reboot; Gellar and Prinze Jr. are pictured in January 2023
Despite not being in the new reboot, Gellar would again share that she was there to support the production in any way possible.
“Well, I mean, my husband is in the movie, my best friend wrote and directed it, (so) I think there’s a good chance it’s going to go to that premiere,” she added.
Gella and Prinze Jr. met on the set of the original film and continued dating until they married in September 2022. During those 22 years of marriage, they welcomed their 14-year-old daughter Charlotte and son Rocky, of 11.
The I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot is scheduled to hit US theaters on July 18, 2025.