As a seasoned film enthusiast with a penchant for horror, I find myself deeply moved by the tale of Lois Duncan and her tumultuous journey with the cinematic adaptation of her novel, “I Know What You Did Last Summer.
In 1997, there were many films that you might recall, but one particular movie stands out: it’s the story of four lively companions who inadvertently run over a seasoned fisherman skilled with fishing hooks. Unfortunately for them, they make a grave error by thinking he was deceased.
In the ’90s, the teen horror genre experienced a revival, with “I Know What You Did Last Summer” being one of its significant contributors. This resurgence was initially sparked by “Scream,” but it was solidified by this movie’s direct approach to fear, as evidenced by its box office success and the star-studded cast including Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Ryan Phillippe.
In 2017, Prinze shared with TopMob News that he had tried out for the role of Neve Campbell’s character’s boyfriend in “Scream,” a part that was between him and Skeet Ulrich. However, Kevin Williamson, who wrote both films, believed Prinze would excel not only in that role but also as Ray, the apparently kind (although he does own a slicker) love interest of Julie in “I Know What You Did Last Summer.
Naturally, the rest of the story is about Prinze meeting Buffy, which turned out to be destiny for him. Additionally, he and Hewitt (be warned: spoiler) appeared together in the 1999 film “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer,” and they are both set to reprise their roles in a sequel that’s currently being developed.
Gellar, on the other hand, provided a straightforward reason as to why she wouldn’t join the journey. In an interview with People, she stated, “I am deceased.
Simultaneously, the universe of “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (IKWYDLS) encompasses the straight-to-video release from 2006 titled “I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer”, as well as a series streaming on Prime Video.
However, the 1997 version had an impeccable timing as it was released during Halloween season, providing shivers, excitement, and creating unforgettable visuals that connected its actors forever, a couple among them through shared experiences, both good and bad.
If your anticipation was unveiling the behind-the-scenes process of creating “I Know What You Did Last Summer“, then you’re in for a treat! Dive in as we reveal all the hidden details:
Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar initially met during the production of “I Know What You Did Last Summer” in 1997; however, their relationship did not blossom into romance immediately. Instead, it wasn’t until three years later that they started dating.
Back in 2020, Gellar reminisced to People about how we had been friends for quite some time, sharing numerous dinners together. He described the evening that took our friendship beyond the friend zone as simply an ordinary dinner where we were catching up. After a prolonged car ride and a lengthy meal, events just unfolded naturally.
In 2017, Prinze shared with TopMob News that “She was aware of the type of individual I am. She understood my values, my goals, and I had a similar understanding of her flaws.
With any potential obstacles to happiness pre-slayed, the devoted duo married in 2002.
Jennifer Love Hewitt, known for portraying the character Julie James as the lead, was the initial choice among the four principal actors, according to director Jim Gillespie, following Reese Witherspoon’s decision to decline the role.
However, it was Reese Witherspoon who introduced the production to Ryan Phillippe, the actor she had met at her own 21st birthday party (before they both starred in Cruel Intentions together), and whom she married in 1999, eventually divorcing in 2007.
In 2017, when asked by Digital Spy who she considered the most attractive man, Gillespie reported that she responded with Ryan Phillippe.
Hewitt initially went in to audition for the role of doomed beauty queen Helen Shivers, the part played by Gellar, who ended up being the last lead cast.
After just two weeks before filming, we found ourselves in North Carolina without Helen already cast. Gillespie explained, “I narrowed it down to three actresses. I had seen some of Buffy; they’d filmed the pilot episode. [Screenwriter Kevin Williamson] was fond of her idea, which worked out well. So Sarah flew down to Wilmington and, in my opinion, she was perfect for the role.
For Hewitt, she expressed on Entertainment Tonight in May that it didn’t feel right for her. They asked what she wanted to do, to which she replied, “I want to audition for Julie James.” Ten minutes later, she was called back to audition and secured the role. She felt like she was more suited to be Julie James when she found out she got the part, and when they told her she had it, she went crazy with excitement.
Scoring her first lead role in a film, Hewitt was admittedly “terrified” of screwing up.
She reminisced, “I wondered if I was ruining the entire film.” She confessed that she couldn’t rest while working on the first movie due to the intensity of the experience. “I’d stay up late into the night with someone constantly pursuing me, only to be told ‘It’s a wrap, go home.’ It was challenging to sleep during such an intense process.
Apart from finding the love of his life, Prinze’s experience starring in his debut major movie role, IKWYDLS, was far from ideal.
In 2022, he shared with Chris Van Vliet that the director consistently made it clear to him that he wasn’t his preferred choice for the film each day. However, the producers and the studio favored him, but the director desired another actor instead.
In 2023, Prinze explained to TooFab that there was no hidden anger from Gillespie, but instead, he was straightforward by saying, “I don’t want you in this movie.” Hearing such words on your first job can be devastating.
Eventually, he added, “Getting out of bed, whether it was early or late since we worked many nights, was often challenging, maintaining the right mindset for work.
The actor Gillespie wanted to play Barry?
According to Prinze, the talented actor Jeremy Sisto, whom I hold in high regard, is truly exceptional.
But ultimately, he continued, the studio and Williamson wanted Prinze.
Mentioning that Freddie Hice, the stunt coordinator from the film, had no blame attached to him (as he came back for the sequel), Prinze stated that he was requested to perform a stunt which was far beyond his capabilities.
According to Prinze, he was instructed to navigate a small motorized boat (dinghy) over the waves created by another larger boat. When he attempted this task, he leaped out of the boat as it sailed overhead, barely missing him. He expressed his anger, stating that it felt like the boat was just millimeters away from him. Later on, a skilled stuntman successfully completed the stunt instead.
Speaking to TooFab, he mentioned that he considered leaving because the director was upset with him for not delivering as expected. He said, “I nearly booked a flight and headed home.” At that moment, he felt drained and decided it was time to quit.
Prinz mentioned that everyone among his co-stars, including his future spouse, were supportive during filming, yet he specifically praised Philippe for providing extra encouragement when he faced difficulties.
In an interview with TooFab, Prinze recalled a conversation with Ryan where he said, “That guy, man, forget him. How many times did you try out for this movie?” To which I replied, “Five times.” Ryan responded, “You deserved it. You didn’t get the role given to you, you earned it. There were fewer competitors each time you auditioned, until it was just you. Remember what landed you this part. Disregard his advice. Any suggestions he gives you, just agree and do as you please.” Ryan was the first one to tell me that.
Gillespie, without offering any feedback on Prinze’s perspective, recalled the situation differently. He had stated that it was him who expressed a strong desire for Prinze to feature in the film and even pleaded with him to accept the role.
As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase that statement as follows: “Back in 2017, when I was a director, Freddie initially faced rejection due to perceived lack of muscularity and perceived softness. He had to audition multiple times before he reached the point of exhaustion, ready to give up. However, I firmly believed in his potential and persistently urged him to continue. Eventually, after some hard work at the gym, diet modifications, and a new haircut, Freddie won everyone over.
In a surprising turn of events, I spontaneously let out an iconic shout of “What’s holding you back, after all?” as if addressing the very breeze itself, right before the climactic scene unfolded. Trust me, the unexpected twist will leave you speechless!
In 2018, Hewitt shared with Us Weekly that the scene was directed by a child who had won a competition to contribute to the movie. Remarkably, this child-directed moment turned out to be the most impactful part of the film. Despite not knowing his whereabouts now, he had proposed an idea for Sarah to stand on the street and shout, “What are you waiting for, huh?” Surprisingly, Hewitt agreed, saying, “Are you kidding me right now? This is what I’m gonna do? OK.” It was a brilliant idea.
It’s no secret that she hasn’t celebrated many Halloweens without someone inquiring about what she’s been anticipating.
When Helen failed to trick her bully, Gellar wasn’t completely free from harm either.
2023 saw actress Gellar remarking on SiriusXM’s Radio Andy that it had been over 25 years since she last watched the movie, likely since its premiere. As Helen fled from the killer in the film, strange recollections started resurfacing.
She got “hundreds of splinters in each hand” filming the scene where Helen frantically pulls a rope to summon a dummy elevator, so the production had to swap in a silk rope for the very real one they started with.
Filming began in March, and as Sarah Michelle Gellar put it, “It was so cold, and I was wearing a short dress without shoes on, while they were trying to secure my feet with tape so I wouldn’t step on shards of glass.” She added, “I can hardly believe it. Then I remember reshooting when it was warmer, and how much simpler it was because I wasn’t also cold and freezing at the same time.
During that period, there was a significant focus on Hewitt’s noticeable decolletage in the movie, most notably during its intense finale when Julie confronts the antagonist Ben Willis, portrayed by Muse Watson.
But she did start off wearing a sweater.
As a lifestyle expert, I found myself in an interesting predicament during the filming of a particular scene. You see, before capturing the climactic fight scene on the deck, we had already filmed the final sequence. In this scene, our protagonist was only wearing a small tank top. However, upon closer inspection, we discovered a continuity error – she had been wearing a sweater throughout the initial part of the scene.
In my fervor, I cast aside my cherished cardigan, utilizing it as a makeshift rope to scale another part of the vessel – the very spot where the action unfolds.
The director explained, “It seemed as though we were doing this for a better view of her chest, but in reality, it was due to a continuity error – we needed it to align properly with the earlier scenes!
Drawing inspiration from the picturesque yet eerie coastal setting of the town depicted in the movie ‘Jaws’, Gillespie aimed to enhance the charming appeal of Southport, North Carolina.
He mentioned that there are many elements reminiscent of ‘Jaws’: Fourth of July celebrations, among other things. To make it more intense, we added a Croaker Festival. Our production designer, Gary Wissner, created large fish-themed vehicles and hats. We also enlisted local school bands to participate in the festival’s parade. We really went all out on that! I aimed for the waterfront to have a New England vibe, and ‘Jaws’ was the inspiration.
During the same period, the pilot of “Dawson’s Creek” was being shot. Since series creator Kevin Williamson was also responsible for “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” it seemed logical to utilize the dock set that had been constructed for the movie in Southport.
Gillespie recalled, “It was all coming together at the same time with Kevin.”
In the movie, Muse Watson primarily had a subtle, ominous impact, only later unveiled as Ben, the vengeful fisherman with a past. However, the actor shared that he put in tremendous effort to deliver an authentic performance.
Watson shared with Vulture in 2020 that he was deeply apprehensive about lending himself to this character because he feared he might not regain control afterwards. He elucidated his caution due to the role’s unsettling nature. “It was truly terrifying, and I was desperate for financial gain. It was a strategic career move. As an actor, I knew portraying a horror character could limit my opportunities in other Hollywood spheres, which I craved intensely. People often underestimate the acting abilities of horror actors. I can’t quite fathom why. But for me, every action required extensive preparation. The swift walk you see? That was meticulously practiced. The hook too.
His preferred moment: “Lying in a ditch next to the road, giving the impression that I’m dead until they arrive.
And he eventually got his body back.
Prior to their encounter in IKWYDLS, Hewitt and Watson resided in the same apartment complex in Burbank, California for some time.
He informed Vulture that while we weren’t particularly close, we recognized one another and exchanged greetings at the swimming pool. She was accompanied by her mother, having moved into an apartment in the area to further her professional aspirations.
Once they started collaborating, there were consistently five individuals involved – Watson and the four youthful actors whom he portrayed as being terrified in the movie.
He expressed that he found them to be an exceptional team, the best he had ever collaborated with, he added. They are all truly remarkable individuals, and I wish them nothing but happiness and fulfillment in life.
The movie “I Know What You Did Last Summer” was based on a young adult thriller published in 1973, originally written by Lois Duncan. However, after selling the rights to her book, she had no creative involvement in the adaptation process.
In an interview for the Sony Pictures featurette titled “Now I Know What You Did Last Summer,” Williamson, famously known for writing the 1996 hit film Scream, stated that he approached the entire story as if it were a modern-day urban myth. The opening scene where the characters engage in a discussion around a campfire about which version of the man-with-a-hook ghost story is true, is one of his signature nods to the audience.
However, Duncan, who passed away in 2016, expressed strong disapproval towards the final outcome. After a screening, he told the Daily Press, “If someone else had made it, I would have walked out.
Beyond transforming her eerie-yet-teen-friendly storyline into an R-rated slasher film, although it was relatively mild in its violence, she disapproved of shifting the location from New Mexico to a coastal town. Consequently, she never visited the set, didn’t contribute to marketing efforts for the movie, and missed the red carpet premiere.
Duncan stated, “They acquired rights to my tale, not my essence.” He made it clear that he has no intention of contributing to the process of making children insensitive towards violence or turning acts of murder into a competition about who can yell the most dramatically.
According to Gillespie, he wished the demise of Elsa, portrayed by Bridgette Wilson, could have been less graphic, yet he was directed to amplify the gruesomeness.
He informed Digital Spy, “There’s a smear of blood on the glass,” he said. “Initially, I hadn’t included any blood in the shot at all. I had edited the scene and it was perfect, everything was exactly as planned, but they requested this [blood splatter], to show her throat being torn.
Gillespie stated that he reluctantly agreed to a point: “The only concession I made was the backsplash of blood hitting the window…” During filming, they reshot that scene towards the end, and that was when he decided, “I’ve had enough with the blood.
Initially, Max, portrayed by Johnny Galecki, was intended to live in the story. However, it was later determined that the antagonist should commit more murders before seeking retribution against the primary characters, resulting in Max’s demise. The character’s death serves as a catalyst for regret and accusations throughout the plot.
So, they shot his death scene after filming initially wrapped, part of two days of reshoots.
Also tacked onto the end of the movie: The ending.
Originally, the credits rolled after Julie gets an email inviting her to a party.
In our initial viewing, the movie seemed fantastic and performed well, but there was an underwhelming sense to it, Gillespie shared with Digital Spy. Immediately after, the studio executive stated, “We’ve got a blockbuster on our hands, but not with that concluding scene.
Within a week, they built a little set and went back to work.
Enter Julie—one year after she seemingly vanquished Ben—getting attacked in a deserted women’s locker room by someone who still knows what she did last summer. And, scene.
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2024-10-31 10:20