Freddy Prinze Jr.s character, Ray, is making a much-anticipated return in the upcoming reboot of the horror film I Know What You Did Last Summer. Originally introduced in the 1997 classic, Ray managed to escape the clutches of a serial killer in the first film, and once again evaded danger in the 1998 sequel, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. This remarkable survival record for a Final Girl boyfriend in a slasher series is noteworthy, and Prinze is excited to reprise the role, promising that Ray will showcase a new depth of character in this iteration.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Prinze revealed that he and the film's director and co-writer, Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, aimed to present a more realistic version of Ray, reflecting the trauma he endured over three decades. Prinze expressed, I think what [Robinson and I] both brought to Ray was a lot more vulnerability in this movie. This portrayal is particularly poignant as Ray now owns a bar, and in the film's first trailer, he is one of the first to voice concern when a new serial killer starts targeting the younger generation.

The resurgence of violence in the community reignites the traumatic memories of Rays past. Prinze elaborated on this, stating, The amount of vulnerability we were able to put in there, I thought, was really honest and just organic. Its clear that Ray is deeply affected by his past experiences, which are explored throughout the film.

Reflecting on how his character has evolved, Prinze said, Catching up with Ray, you see how that has shaped him into the position hes in now. He loves his town, and not everyone else does, in his view, and hes a little grumpier with the way the world has treated him since [the 1997 Southport Massacre]. He noted that Ray, being a man from the 90s, has likely suppressed many of his feelings, which adds an authentic layer to his character.

For long-time fans of the franchise, there is a lingering question regarding how Ray and his love interest, Julie, portrayed by Jennifer Love Hewitt, survived the cliffhanger ending of I Still Know. The previous film suggested that both characters faced imminent peril, raising eyebrows about their continuity in the reboot. Robinson addressed this concern and stated, I feel like those final scenes in the first two movies live outside the canon because in the first movie she gets attacked through the shower, through the glass door, and in the second movie, she gets pulled under the bed. So theyre both alive and well, and what I will say is that we have continued the tradition in our film.

This cryptic statement raises anticipation among fans about how these legacy characters will navigate their new challenges in the reboot. The film is slated for release on July 18, and fans are eagerly hoping that both Ray and Julie will emerge victorious once again in this reimagined horror tale.