Ryan Phillippe has caught wind of those persistent rumors tying him to "I Know What You Did Last Summer" in an unexpectedly charming, albeit false, manner. On July 19th, Saturday, Prime Video's Instagram page shared a nostalgic snippet of the 50-year-old actor from the iconic 1997 teen horror film, accompanied by an intriguing anecdote: "Reese Witherspoon auditioned for 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' but had a change of heart and withdrew. Instead, she suggested her then-boyfriend, Ryan Phillippe, for the role of Barry."
Phillippe, with a touch of amusement, chimed in the comments, "Not sure that story is truuuuuue, but it’s very cute."
This revelation by Prime Video likely traces back to an interview director Jim Gillespie granted to Digital Spy in 2017. Gillespie revealed that the now-49-year-old Witherspoon was initially considered for the role of Julie before she backed out, ultimately paving the way for Jennifer Love Hewitt to step into the spotlight. He recounted, "We actually made an offer to Reese Witherspoon first. Reese met with us but ultimately decided against it. Interestingly enough, she pointed us towards Ryan, whom she was dating at the time. When we asked her who the hottest guy was in her opinion, she promptly named Ryan Phillippe."
Phillippe and Witherspoon's love story began at her 21st birthday celebration in March 1997, before they costarred in "Cruel Intentions" two years later. They got engaged in December 1998 and tied the knot in June 1999, welcoming two children—daughter Ava, now 25, and son Deacon, 21. The couple separated in 2006 and finalized their divorce in 2007.
Reflecting on their split during an appearance on "Larry King Live" in 2015, Phillippe attributed it more to their youth rather than the pressures of their profession. "When we got together, we were so young," he said. "I think age played a significant role in our separation, especially in this industry where there’s so much noise. But I wouldn’t say that was the sole reason."
Phillippe insisted they remained "very much friends" and coparented their children amicably. Witherspoon echoed this sentiment in a 2017 interview with Lorraine, acknowledging that their young age at the time of marriage contributed to their divorce. "I got married when I was 23 and had two kids by 27," she mused. "Sometimes it’s good to know yourself. I would never change anything. I told my daughter, 'At 25, you start to know yourself a little bit better.'"
Phillippe and Witherspoon's journey paralleled that of their fellow '90s and 2000s stars, including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Hewitt, who recently addressed false rumors surrounding her involvement in "I Know What You Did Last Summer." In an interview with Vulture published on July 18th, the day before Prime Video's post, Hewitt spoke out against persistent speculation of a feud with costar Gellar. "I honestly don’t even know what that was or how that all came to be. I think people don’t want the narrative to be easy," she said. "Why do we always have to be against each other?"
Adding fuel to the rumors, Gellar and Hewitt didn’t pose together at the premiere of the new "I Know What You Did Last Summer" film the previous week. Gellar clarified that she was indoors with her children during the red carpet event and expressed disappointment that Hewitt didn’t attend the afterparty. Hewitt, for her part, told Vulture, "I haven’t seen Sarah. Literally, we’ve not talked since I saw her at 18 when the first movie came out. That’s why it’s so funny to me. People were like, 'Say something back.' And I’m like, 'What am I going to say? I’ve not seen her.' On my side, we’re good. I have no idea where this is coming from."
Director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson of the new "I Know What You Did Last Summer" sequel also debunked fan theories that Prinze Jr. and Hewitt filmed their scenes separately. "Hewitt and Prinze absolutely shot their scenes together," she clarified via X on July 19th, setting the record straight with a touch of finality.
