I Know What You Did Last Summer & Final Destination Are Getting Reboots
Two of the most popular slasher franchises are being revived: I Know What You Did Last Summer and Final Destination. Despite getting negative reviews, Final Destination was a box-office hit, and it spawned a franchise with four sequels. A new movie, Final Destination: Bloodlines, is set for release on May 16, 2025. The story will explore William Bludworth’s backstory and Tony Todd’s return as the only character from past movies.
I Know What You Did Last Summer started in 1973 with Lois Duncan’s novel, which was adapted into the 1997 slasher movie. A new movie was announced in early 2023, with Jennifer Kaytin Robinson directing and Sam Lansky and Robinson penning the script. The new movie is a sequel to the second movie and will feature a new cast, including Jonah Hauer-King and Jennifer Love Hewitt’s return as Julie.
Both franchises are unlikely choices for reboots. I Know What You Did Last Summer wasn’t a critical success, but its popularity with the general audience led to its sequel being greenlit. Final Destination had many sequels, but the franchise is still fairly good.
The success of horror reboots in recent years makes it easy for studios to bring back popular franchises. Nostalgia and curiosity about reliving the past drive audience interest. Even if the movie is bad, it’s still likely to be a box-office hit. The model of soft reboots, like Scream’s, has been successful. With the success of reboots like Halloween and Scream, it wouldn’t surprise if other smaller, less successful horror franchises are brought back.
I Know What You Did Last Summer and Final Destination’s returns will be exciting as they connect to the previous movies and introduce new storylines. Horror reboots are big business for Hollywood, and it’s possible to see other franchises returning in the future.