The newI Know What You Did Last Summermovie brings together new and old characters, and a Helen Shivers reference in the first trailer proves why Sarah Michelle Gellar made the right decision in not returning. Among thehorror franchises coming back to life in 2025isI Know What You Did Last Summer, which hasn’t had a theatrically released movie since 1998. Directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson,I Know What You Did Last Summeris a direct sequel toI Still Know What You Did Last Summer, though it mainly focuses on a group of new characters.
I Know What You Did Last Summer’s new sequelfollows the same premise as the original movie, with a group of friends inadvertently causing a deadly car accident and covering it up, promising to never talk about it again. A year later, they are stalked and killed by a mysterious man dressed as a fisherman. Their only hope might be Julie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Ray (Freddie Prinze Jr), the survivors of the 1997 massacre, as they already went through this. Julie and Ray are the only confirmed legacy characters in the movie, but it has a reference to another beloved character.
I Know What You Did Last Summer’s Trailer Shows Helen Shivers' Grave
The New I Know What You Did Last Summer Has A Quick Helen Easter Egg
Julie and Ray are the only survivors of the 1997 Southport massacre (and two of three survivors of the 1998 Bahamas massacre, along with Karla). Along with their friends Helen Shivers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Barry Cox (Ryan Phillippe), Ray and Julie accidentally ran over a man on the road on July 13, 2025. After throwing his body in the water, right after the man woke up, Barry made them swear they would never talk about this incident again; however, what none of them was counting on was the man they hit with their car returning a year later for revenge.
The fisherman killed Helen, who fought for her life for as long as she could.
After stalking them, sending them notes, and haunting them in different ways, the fisherman first killed Barry during Southport’s Beauty Pageant, just as Helen was watching. That same night, the fisherman killed Helen, who fought for her life for as long as she could. Of course, Helen and Barry didn’t return in any capacity inI Still Know What You Did Last Summer, though they were briefly mentioned, but they haven’t been forgotten, especially Helen.
In thefirstI Know What You Did Last Summertrailer, Ray makes his first appearance during a town meeting with the authorities. As Ray demands they do something to stop the murders and violence, as this isn’t the first time something like this has happened in Southport,the trailer cuts to Helen’s grave, next to her sister’s(who was also killed by the fisherman). It’s a quick reference, but a very emotional one, as someone left Helen’s framed picture on her grave.
Sarah Michelle Gellar Turned Down A Role In 2025’s I Know What You Did Last Summer
Don’t Expect To See Sarah Michelle Gellar In The I Know What You Did Last Summer Sequel
Unsurprisingly, Sarah Michelle Gellar isn’t part of thecast of the newI Know What You Did Last Summersequel, but that doesn’t mean she wasn’t offered the chance to be a part of it. Speaking toETin February 2023, Gellar shared her excitement over the new IKnow What You Did Last Summermovie, especially as Robinson is one of her closest friends, and revealed Robinson had toyed with the idea of having her appear again as Helen. However,Gellar reminded her that Helen is truly dead, so there’s no way to write something for a dead character.
In an interview withPeoplein October 2024 (viaDeadline), Gellar confirmed once more that she wouldn’t return as Helen in the new IKnow What You Did Last Summermovie because her character is dead. However, she jokingly added that her job in the movie is “continuity”, as she would tell Robinson what happened in the previous movies and what didn’t. In the end,Helen’s grave might be the only way Helen “is back”in the newI Know What You Did Last Summersequel.
I Know What You Did Last Summer’s Helen Reference Is A Reminder Of Why Sarah Michelle Gellar Shouldn’t Return
R.I.P. Helen
Helen’s return would retcon the first movie, and bringing her back in visions (in the style of the Scream reboot movies) has other issues.
As fun as it would be to have Sarah Michelle Gellar back inI Know What You Did Last Summerwith Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt, she made the right decision in not returning. As Gellar said many times, Helen is dead – and she’s really, truly dead. The brief Helen reference in the firstI Know What You Did Last Summertrailer confirms this, and reminds the audience why Gellar shouldn’t return, asthere really isn’t a way in which Helen could be brought back.
Sarah Michelle Gellar turning down returning as Helen inI Know What You Did Last Summerspeaks volumes about how professional she is and how much she respects the movies.
Helen’s return would retcon the first movie, and bringing her back in visions (in the style of theScreamreboot movies) has other issues, such as de-aging and probably even stepping into supernatural and unbelievable territory. Sarah Michelle Gellar turning down returning as Helen inI Know What You Did Last Summerspeaks volumes about how professional she is and how much she respects the movies, as she knows Helen is dead and can’t be brought back.
