The highly anticipated reboot of âI Know What You Did Last Summer” is just around the corner! Despite it not being released yet, it’s been making waves left and right online, with fans excited to see the new film. But some early buzz around the movie has now revealed an unexpected twist involving the cast. Fans were initially excited to see âThe Summer I Turned Pretty’sâ Lola Tung and âMonstersâ star Nicholas Alexander Chavez join the slasher cast when their involvement was announced. However, at the filmâs Los Angeles premiere, director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson confirmed that their roles were ultimately cut from the final product.
A Hard Choice for Robinson
In an interview, Robinson explained the decision with nothing but heart and professionalism. She called the cut a “hard choice” that was ultimately necessary for the filmâs vision. Tung and Chavez had filmed a scene that was meant to kick off the movie, but after viewing the footage, Robinson felt it didnât fit the tone or direction she was aiming for in the final cut. “You shoot something and, when you watch the scene, it doesnât fit in the film,” Robinson said. “Their performance was fantastic, but it just didnât work within the film that we were creating.”
She continued, âSometimes that happens when youâre trying to make something bold. It didnât work, but they are so fantastic, and it was a hard decision to make.â
Lola Tung and Nicholas Alexander Chavez’s Talent is Still Acknowledged
Both Tung and Chavez are far from unknowns. Tung gained widespread recognition for her breakout role as Belly Conklin in Primeâs âThe Summer I Turned Pretty.â It quickly became a show that earned her a dedicated fan following. She will soon return for her third season, continuing to showcase her immense talent on July 16. Chavez, on the other hand, wowed audiences in Ryan Murphyâs âMonsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Storyâ as Lyle.Â
Despite their early exit from this high-profile project, both actors handled the news with grace. Robinson had nothing but praise for both actors, saying, âEverybody was so professional about it. Theyâre so sweet, so lovely. They totally got it.” She did go on to tease that their involvement might not be over just yet, saying, “Maybe theyâll make the sequel.” So yes, as expected, fans already have a small, tiny glimmer of hope for future appearances. We know we do!Â
The Reboot’s New Faces
While Tung and Chavez may have been axed, the reboot still has plenty to offer. This time around, the film follows a new group of high school teens (including Outer Banks’ Madelyn Cline, Tyriq Withers, Sarah Pidgeon, Chase Sui Wonders, and Jonah Hauer-King) who cover up a fatal car crash. They later find themselves stalked by a vengeful figure, a year later, who we all know pretty well. As the deadly events unfold, original stars also make an exciting appearance, including Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr.
They both reprise their iconic roles as Julie James and Ray Bronson, offering a link between the old and new generations of survivors. The 1997 original classic also starred Prinze Jr.’s wife, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Ryan Phillippe, and went on to gross a whopping $125.3 million (!!!) on a simple budget of $17 million. It was followed by its sequel, “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer,” in 1998, as well as “I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer” in 2006. Trying to continue the pattern, Amazon Prime also released an original TV series in 2021.
This time around, the new film is scheduled to be released on July 18, 2025. It’s expected to keep audiences on the edge of their seats once again. Honestly, let’s be real, who doesn’t like a good horror story of high schoolers, fatal secrets, and a hook-wielding fisherman?
Though âIKWYDLSâ may have cut two rising stars, the thrilling slasher film is still packed with talent, suspense, and, of course, the promise of more bloody secrets waiting to be uncovered. Let’s see how this new chapter of terror plays out.
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