The slasher genre is currently eating itself. In a world where Scream and Halloween have successfully resurrected their respective masked killers for the TikTok generation, it was only a matter of time before the Fisherman came back for another round. It’s actually happening. Sony Pictures is officially moving forward with a direct sequel to the 1998 cult classic, which essentially makes it I Still Know What You Did Last Summer 2 in spirit, even if the title ends up being a bit more streamlined.
People forget how big this franchise was. Back in the late 90s, Jennifer Love Hewitt was the undisputed queen of the teen scream.
Honestly, the news of a legacy sequel caught most fans off guard. We've had a straight-to-DVD disaster with I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer and a short-lived Amazon series that felt like it was trying too hard to be Euphoria with a body count. Neither of those really captured the DNA of the original Jim Gillespie film or its Bahamas-set sequel. This new project is different because it’s bringing back the heavy hitters.
The Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. Connection
You can’t have this franchise without Julie James. You just can’t. According to Deadline and various industry reports from early 2024, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. have been in talks to reprise their roles as Julie and Ray. This is the "legacy sequel" formula that worked so well for Jamie Lee Curtis and Neve Campbell.
It's been decades. Where is Julie James now?
In the original sequel, she was struggling with severe PTSD and a fear of water that honestly made a lot of sense given she was hunted by a guy with a meat hook. Seeing her navigate a new tragedy as an adult—potentially with children of her own—adds a layer of stakes that a bunch of random teenagers just can't provide. Freddie Prinze Jr. has been vocal on social media and in interviews about his cautious optimism. He’s famously picky about his projects these days, focusing more on his family and his podcasting, so if he's in, the script probably doesn't suck.
Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, who directed Do Revenge, is set to helm this thing. That’s a massive win for horror fans. Robinson has a very specific eye for Gen Z aesthetics and sharp, biting dialogue, but she clearly has a deep reverence for the 90s era of filmmaking.
Why the 90s Slasher Formula Still Works
The hook is simple. Guilt.
Unlike Michael Myers, who is just a force of nature, or Freddy Krueger, who is a supernatural dream demon, the Fisherman is a byproduct of a mistake. The core of I Still Know What You Did Last Summer 2 has to be that nagging feeling that your past is eventually going to catch up with you. It’s a universal fear. We've all done something we aren't proud of, though hopefully not "accidentally hitting a man with a car and dumping his body in the ocean" levels of bad.
The pacing of these movies usually relies on a slow burn.
You get the ominous note. You get the creepy phone call. Then, someone gets stuffed into a trunk full of crabs. It’s a classic rhythm. To make this work in 2026, the production needs to balance that nostalgia with modern technology. How do you hide from a killer in the age of Find My iPhone and Ring cameras? That’s the hurdle Robinson and her writing team have to jump over.
Addressing the Canon Confusion
Let’s be real about the timeline for a second. The 2006 film I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer basically went the "urban legend" route and turned Ben Willis into a supernatural zombie. It was bad. Fans generally ignore it.
This new I Still Know What You Did Last Summer 2 is expected to follow the Halloween (2018) playbook. It will likely acknowledge the events of the first two films—the original and the 1998 sequel—while ignoring the spin-offs. This allows the writers to keep Julie James as a grounded, human survivor rather than a woman fighting a ghost.
Sony hasn't released a full plot synopsis yet, but the rumor mill suggests a new group of friends gets entangled in a hit-and-run, only to realize their parents (Julie and Ray) have a very specific, very bloody history with this kind of thing. It’s a "sins of the father" vibe. It works.
The Return of the Slick Slasher Aesthetic
Horror has been very "elevated" lately. We’ve had a decade of A24-style psychological trauma where the monster is actually just grief.
Sometimes, people just want to see a guy in a slicker with a hook.
The original films were beautiful to look at. They had high production values, gorgeous locations, and a cast that looked like they walked off a runway. There is a specific kind of "glossy horror" that died out in the mid-2000s, and bringing that back would be a breath of fresh air. We need the saturated colors and the dramatic rain sequences.
What We Actually Know About Production
The film is being written by Leah McKendrick. She’s known for M.F.A., which was a pretty brutal, effective thriller about campus assault. That choice of writer suggests this won't just be a mindless popcorn flick; there's going to be some weight to the character development.
- Director: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
- Starring: Jennifer Love Hewitt (In talks), Freddie Prinze Jr. (In talks), Brandy (Rumored)
- Studio: Sony Pictures
- Release Window: Expected late 2025 or summer 2026
Wait, Brandy? Yeah, there has been a lot of noise online about Brandy returning as Karla. She was the best part of the 1998 sequel. She survived! In a genre where the "best friend" almost always dies, Karla beating the Fisherman was a huge deal. If they manage to get the trio back together, the box office potential is massive.
Potential Pitfalls for the Sequel
It isn't all smooth sailing. Slasher sequels are notoriously difficult to get right. If they lean too hard into the "meta" humor, they risk being a second-rate Scream. If they play it too straight, it might feel dated.
The biggest challenge is the Fisherman himself. Ben Willis was a mortal man. He’d be pretty old by now. Does he have a protégé? Is it a copycat? Or is the movie going to lean into the supernatural elements after all? Honestly, keeping him human is the scarier choice. There is nothing more terrifying than a man with a grudge who just won't die.
Taking Action: How to Prepare for the Hook's Return
If you're a fan of the franchise or just a horror nut, you don't have to wait for the trailer to drop to get back into the spirit of the series. The landscape of teen horror is changing, and staying ahead of the curve means looking back at the foundation.
First, revisit the 1997 original. It holds up surprisingly well, especially the cinematography. Pay attention to the "shook" camera work and the way the tension builds before the first kill. Most modern slashers rush the first act; this movie takes its time.
Second, keep an eye on official Sony press releases rather than "leak" accounts on Twitter. A lot of the casting news is still in the "finalizing" stage. Following Jennifer Kaytin Robinson on social media is usually the best way to get behind-the-scenes crumbs.
Lastly, check out the 90s horror revival trend. There are several smaller indie projects currently trying to capture this specific "I Still Know" energy. Movies like Sick (2022) or the Fear Street trilogy on Netflix are great bridges to help you understand where the slasher genre is headed before the Fisherman officially makes his comeback.
The most important thing to remember is that this franchise is built on the consequences of silence. Whether it's a new killer or the return of Ben Willis, the message is the same: secrets don't stay buried in the sand forever.