Director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson's recent announcement about the upcoming 1998 slasher sequel sequel sparked a fervent fan clamor for Brandy's triumphant return in the Sony blockbuster slated for theatrical release next year. Unbeknownst to Brandy, Sony Pictures was secretly crafting their summer surprise.
During a lively chat with The Hollywood Reporter, promoting Disney Channel's latest Descendants sequel, the starlet was quizzed about Sony's upcoming reboot of I Know What You Did Last Summer, set to scorch silver screens on July 18, 2025. With a touch of surprise, Brandy confessed, "I had no idea Sony was even cooking up something like that! Fascinating!"
Pressed if she was merely playing coy to keep her potential involvement under wraps, Brandy insisted, "No tricks here, folks. I genuinely had no clue." She then reminisced about her character Karla Wilson, who survived the brutal climax of the 1998 sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, and eagerly declared, "They better give me a ring because Karla's still kicking! I left that movie bloodied but unbroken, ready for more. I didn't bite the dust in there." She humorously added, "Jennifer, Freddie, give me a holler!"
Last week, THR unveiled the star-studded cast of the Robinson-directed film, featuring Camila Mendes (Riverdale), Madelyn Cline (Outer Banks), Sarah Pidgeon (Tiny Beautiful Things), Tyriq Withers (Atlanta), and Jonah Hauer-King (2023's The Little Mermaid), but plot details remain shrouded in mystery.
Amidst rumors swirling that the new movie might disregard the franchise's previous sequels, Robinson swiftly quashed them on social media, affirming, "ISKWYDLS (I Still Know What You Did Last Summer) is very much part of the canon." This sparked a flurry of hopeful comments from fans, yearning for Brandy's comeback.
The original I Know What You Did Last Summer, released on October 17, 1997, grossed over $72 million at the box office (equivalent to $142 million today), starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Ryan Phillippe. The film, penned by Scream scribe Kevin Williamson and adapted from Lois Duncan's 1973 novel, followed a group of friends haunted by a hook-wielding villain after they accidentally run him over and attempt to cover it up.
Robinson is steering this fresh take from a screenplay she co-wrote with Sam Lansky, building upon Leah McKendrick's initial draft. Neal Moritz, a producer of the original film, returns to oversee the reboot.
Brandy herself is enjoying a stunning resurgence, reprising her iconic role of Cinderella in Descendants: The Rise of Red, now streaming on Disney+ and set to air on Disney Channel next month. She also stars in the psychological thriller The Front Room, set for theatrical release in September, while Ariana Grande's revamped version of her and Monica's 1998 hit "The Boy Is Mine" continues to dominate radio airwaves.
"It's a full-blown renaissance!" Brandy exulted to THR. "I'm still fueled by passion. I adore what I do. I'm eagerly awaiting the world's reaction and hoping to inspire hearts anew."
