Summary

I Know What You Did Last Summer marks the return of the horror franchise with a new cast and familiar faces.
Jennifer Love Hewitt pitched a crossover idea involving I Know What You Did Last Summer, Halloween, and Scream.
Despite similarities, a crossover may not be ideal as each franchise has strengths and may not benefit from a shared universe.

The new legacy sequel, I Know What You Did Last Summer, is finally debuting for fans to see, and one star pitched an epic crossover that would bring the horror franchise and other genre icons together. However, as enticing as the actor's idea is, could it actually work for the characters and fans?

I Know What You Did Last Summer is a return to the long-dormant horror franchise. The young cast deal with a similar incident to the teens in the 1997 original, attempting to cover up an accident that results in them being stalked by a killer. The new cast includes Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, and Sarah Pidgeon, and the returning cast members include Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. The I Know What You Did Last Summer franchise is likely hoping for potential sequels if audiences respond well, and Hewitt has a unique idea in mind.

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I Know What You Did Last Summer Review: A Slasher Movie This Annoying And Pointless Is Unlikely To Hook Anyone

I Know What You Did Last Summer is a wreck; an annoying, grating, lazy, clunky piece of bad filmmaking.

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By Colin Leggett

Jennifer Love Hewitt Wants To See A Crossover Between I Know What You Did Last Summer, Halloween, & Scream

Promotion for the new I Know What You Did Last Summer is in full swing as the movie hits theaters, and the stars are delving into the details in the horror revival film. The potential future of the slasher series remains unknown, as even if there isn't a sequel, there is always room for a reboot, as it is based on a novel of the same name. Still, that hasn't kept franchise star Jennifer Love Hewitt from pitching an exciting horror crossover with other slasher franchises.

While speaking with ExtraTV (via MovieWeb) at the premiere of I Know What You Did Last Summer, Hewitt was asked about a potential crossover with other horror franchises, which has happened in the past, with films like Freddy vs. Jason and A lien vs. Predator. The actor's "final girl" idea could be box office gold, seeing I Know What You Did Last Summer, Halloween, and Scream all connect in the same universe, with a stellar cast. Hewitt said:

I mean I would have to go to Jamie Lee Curtis. But I feel like a Julie James, Sydney [Prescott], Halloween, like one final girl movie where they all come together to take someone out. That would be bomb.

Hewitt's idea would see her I Know What You Did Last Summer character, Julie James, team up with Halloween's Laurie Strode, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, and Scream's Sydney Prescott, portrayed by Neve Campbell. It's the type of idea that likely has a producer wondering if it's possible, with fans always looking for exciting ways for their beloved characters to thrive.

All Three Famous Horror Franchises Feature Iconic Final Girls

I Know What You Did Last Summer, Halloween, and Scream share several similarities. They each feature an unknown killer picking up characters one by one, with a central female protagonist often acting as the sole survivor, or "final girl." The term "final girl" speaks to the common horror movie trope where the final surviving character is often a woman. The three horror franchises have each seen several sequels, with Halloween having reboots and legacy sequels that ignore other films, and even Scream continuing with the legacy angle.

Hewitt's character Julie James has appeared in all the I Know What You Did Last Summer films, except the forgettable 2006 straight-to-DVD I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer. Jamie Lee Curtis has brought Laurie Strode to seven Halloween films, even killing off the character, only to ignore it later. Scream's Sydney Prescott has appeared in five of the six films, with the character slated to return for the seventh installment. Each character has proven to help the franchise find new audiences, existing over decades. However, despite the similarities in theme and characters, it may not be the best idea to have the franchises cross over.

Despite Similar Horror Appeal, A Crossover With Halloween & Scream May Not Be Ideal

The prospect of the three iconic actresses sharing the screen in an epic slasher movie crossover would surely yield financial returns equivalent to the level of excitement it could conjure, making it an exciting prospect. However, it could prove to be a bad idea. The I Know What You Did Last Summer franchise has proven the weakest of the three in terms of staying power, despite an iconic final girl and killer. What's more, the latest film has seen mixed reviews. It even existed as a short-lived TV series, proving to squander the ideas at play.

The Scream franchise is currently thriving independently, with a seventh film in the works that will continue Ghostface's killing spree with some new and returning faces. It has also been the most consistent of the three franchises with critics and audiences. Several beloved sequels have continued to inject the series with fresh new ideas, which is displayed perfectly by the opening moments of Scream VI.

Jamie Lee Curtis also seems content to end her time with the Halloween franchise after returning for the last trilogy of legacy sequels. The David Gordon Green-directed films initially thrilled audiences with 2018's Halloween. However, by Halloween Ends in 2022, audiences soured on the character's direction, with the third outing making some lackluster choices. The Halloween movies may continue in a new form, but Curtis is likely through with the horror franchise, making any prospect of her reprising her role of Laurie Strode a long shot.

While Hewitt's idea for a final girl movie that would see the three iconic stars teaming up against a new threat is enticing, it is a dream that is unlikely to ever come to fruition. There could be more Halloween, Scream has more on the way, and I Know What You Did Last Summer is in theaters now. The classic franchises still hold a place in the cultural zeitgeist, with potentially bright futures all around, even if there isn't a crossover.

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