For somebody with as long and varied a career as Sarah Michelle Gellar, the actress has worked surprisingly little with Disney over the years. It’s certainly not because she isn’t a fan, as the actress and her family recently made a stop at the Happiest Place on Earth for a “much needed’ break in the middle of Gellar’s recent run of horror projects, from Dexter to Buffy to big-screen sequels.

It’s difficult to think of a better time to hit Disneyland than right now. It’s the Christmas season, and it’s also Disneyland's 70th anniversary celebration. Those two things combine to make for a pretty amazing trip, and based on the photos posted to Instagram, Sarah Michelle Gellar, husband Freddie Prinze Jr., and their family certainly had a festive experience.

Gellar is absolutely rocking a pair of holiday Minnie Mouse ears and making it look far better than anybody has a right to. Also, as somebody who is obsessed with Disneyland food and drink, I have to give her bonus points for going with the Cold Brew Black Caf at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. It’s absolutely one of the best things to drink at Disneyland, and the proper start to any great Disneyland day.

Considering that Freddie Prinze Jr. was the voice of Kanan Jarrus in Star Wars: Rebels, one imagines he particularly enjoyed the visit to the galaxy far, far away.

Gellar also includes a couple of images from Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and she also took rides on Toy Story Midway Mania and checked out Haunted Mansion Holiday. An evening picture in front of It’s a Small World, all done up in Christmas lights, is also a must-do. She really hit some of the best rides at Disneyland and the top rides at Disney California Adventure.

A trip to Disneyland is probably something of a culture shock, considering that most of the actress’ recent and current work is a bit disconnected from traditional Disney fare. She most recently appeared in the I Know What You Did Last Summer legacy sequel, and her upcoming projects include Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, where she plays one of the monsters, and the planned Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot, where she will, one assumes, kill the monsters.

Although, since the upcoming reboot of Buffy is a Hulu project, that does technically make it part of the Disney family. Disney Parks got in on the fun with a comment on Gellar’s Instagram post, saying…

I am a little jealous of Gellar and family, as my own visit to Disneyland during the holiday season got rained out, though even in less than great whether it’s hard to have a bad day at Disneyland. Whatever else may be going wrong, at least you’re at Disneyland.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains major spoilers for I Know What You Did Last Summer. If you have not yet seen the film, proceed at your own risk!

In the last 15 years, we’ve seen a whole lot of legacyquels – from Tron: Legacy, to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, to Jurassic World: Dominion, to Scream – and the typical approach when it comes to classic characters is to play things safe. Heroes from the 1970s/1980s/1990s remain heroes today, and there is often an attempt to echo traits that made audiences fall in love with them in the first place. That’s not a game that’s played by the new I Know What You Did Last Summer, however, and it’s a significant reason why I think the film deserved a better response than what it got when it arrived in theaters a few months ago.

Now, the 2025 movie is available to stream with a Netflix subscription – and with its arrival, I feel it’s the perfect time to share a story from my interview with writer/director Jennifer Katlin Robinson and star Freddie Prinze Jr. during the film’s Los Angeles press day this summer. As captured in the video above, I used my time with the filmmaker and the actor to dive headlong into spoilers and ask about the reveal of Prinze’s Ray Bronson as the new incarnation of The Fisherman.

Robinson explained that it was one of two things she knew that she wanted to do instantly when she was approached by Sony about the project. One of the priorities was not making an overt franchise reboot by introducing new characters and keeping them alive; in her words, she wanted to “kill basically everyone.” The other thing she wanted to do was have Ray be the killer, which was a conclusion she came to after thinking about the lives of the legacy characters. Said the director,

In the continuity of the film, Ray is a single bar owner who has long been divorced from Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Julie James, and while he still lives in Southport, North Carolina, he is not exactly happy with the town. An effort to protect the reputation of the area, the history with The Fisherman in the late 1990s is hidden away, and it literally drives him crazy that the most traumatic event of his life would become a secret. He plans for revenge, and he teams up with his employee, Sarah Pidgeon’s Stevie Ward, to get it.

The big and surprising twist couldn’t have happened if Freddie Prinze Jr. either didn’t want to make the movie or felt overprotective of the character, but that isn’t what happened. Instead, the actor recognized that the surprise would upset some people, but he recognized the reality in it. He explained,

There is a legitimate emotional foundation established to have Ray become the killer for the film… but at the same time, he is a killer and a very dangerous individual who poses a real threat to I Know What You Did Last Summer’s protagonists in the third act. While Freddie Prinze Jr. is best known for his roles as good guys and romantic leads, playing this turn was something he was very excited to try. He continued,

Slasher movies can be fun to watch a second time when you know who the killer is, as you can truly see how all of the puzzle pieces fit together. I Know What You Did Last Summer is a prime example, and in addition to it now being available to stream on Netflix, it’s also available for digital rental/purchase and on both 4K UHD and Blu-ray. And if you didn’t stick around for the end credits scene last time, you can check them out now!

Spoilers ahead for the new I Know What You Did Last Summer.

The horror genre has been thriving for years, to the delight of superfans like me. Some of the best horror movies returned with new sequels, including I Know What You Did Last Summer. Prior to its release, it was arguably my most anticipated upcoming horror movie of the summer because of how much I adore the first two movies. And while I ultimately loved the new installment, that finale was a real letdown.

CinemaBlend's I Know What You Did Last Summer review praised the work of director/writer Jennifer Kaytin Robinson on the new slasher. I would rank it even higher, and I had a blast thanks to its surprisingly hilarious script, Sarah Michelle Gellar's cameo, and the twist of the Fisherman's identity. But why was the ending "battle" such a nothing burger?

The Final Confrontation With Ray Wasn't A Full On Battle With Julie And Ava

I was shook when Ray revealed he was The Fisherman this time around, killing his associate Stevie in the process. We haven't seen any heroes turned villains in the new Scream movies (which are streaming with a Paramount+ subscription), so this was a fun departure. And I was super hyped about seeing Ray and Jennifer Love Hewitt's Julie James come to blows in the final battle.

The I Know What You Did Last Summer trailers showed Julie saying her signature line, "What are you waiting for?", which she said to her ex while preparing for him to try and murder her. But before a full-on battle could happen ala Laurie Strode and Michael Myers, Freddie Prinze Jr.'s character is shot and killed by a harpoon gun courtesy of new Final Girl Ava (Chase Sui Wonders).

This final moment was my one letdown of the new I Know What You Did Last Summer, but it was a major misstep. The movie came and went without Julie James really fighting off The Fisherman, despite Jennifer Love Hewitt being one of the best scream queens of all time. I loved seeing her back on the big screen in one of her signature roles, but I just wanted Julie to get in on the violence and scares of the story a little bit more.

This is all the more surprising since Julie was advocating for the new cast to hunt down and kill whoever was terrorizing them. Plus, the final scene of this new sequel featured Brandy's long-awaited return as Karla, where she asked her former college roommate, "Who are we fucking up this time?" It sounds like the pair are down to fight off the mysterious villain who is stalking them, but why didn't we get to see this type of badassery throughout the movie?

The new I Know What You Did Last Summer is available to purchase or rent now as part of the 2025 movie release list. I really loved 95% of it, so I'm hoping we get another sequel... one that puts both of the remaining legacy characters in the action.

I can say from experience that, in my opinion, some of the best romantic relationships are shared by two people who love sharing moments of chills and thrills with each other. In that same vein, I have a lot of respect and admiration for couples who have joined forces to create moments of chills and thrills for others, such as the stars and co-producers of Together, Dave Franco and Alison Brie.

The husband and wife duo are far from the first real-life couple to star in a horror movie together, and, because of the genuine onscreen chemistry they bring to the new 2025 movie, I sure hope they are not the last. In fact, let's begin my little breakdown of notable Hollywood power couples who made some great scary date movies over the years with the stars of Together.

Dave Franco And Alison Brie (Together)

Recent releases like the Oscar-winning The Substance and The Ugly Stepsister have paved the way for a golden era of body horror movies that continues with writer and director Michael Shanks' Together. The new horror movie stars the aforementioned Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, who find themselves growing too close for comfort when a mysterious force causes them to be involuntarily bound by flesh.

Echoing Eric Eisenberg's Together review, Franco and Brie portray the troubling circumstances of their characters' relationship, even those existing before the supernatural starts to make things worse, so flawlessly that you can't help but wonder about the state of their actual marriage. Of course, by the end, it becomes clear they possess more than enough chemistry to make this bizarre and unsettling, but also funny and even heartwarming thriller a satisfying and touching experience.

John Krasinski And Emily Blunt (A Quiet Place)

I believe 2018's A Quiet Place boasts one of the most astonishingly unique concepts for an alien invasion movie I have ever seen: a world overrun with malevolent, non-seeing extra-terrestrials, forcing the remains of humanity to live in silence. However, I also believe the key to its unnerving effectiveness lies in the lead performances by John Krasinski (who also co-writes and directs) and Emily Blunt.

As Lee and Evelyn Abbott, the beloved power couple, who wed in 2010 and have since had two children, deliver a compelling and authentic sense of devotion to one another and desperation to protect their family at all costs. Had Krasinski not cast his own wife to play his onscreen partner, the film's man-versus-monster suspense could have easily lacked the breathless urgency that made it an instant sci-fi movie classic.

Jeff Goldblum And Geena Davis (The Fly)

Together is not the first body horror flick to star a real-life couple, but it might be the first to involve both romantic leads experiencing the same grotesque situation first-hand. In David Cronenberg's 1986 version of The Fly, Jeff Goldblum's Dr. Seth Brundle slowly becomes a half-human, half-insect hybrid while the love of his life, Ronnie Quaife (Geena Davis), only witnesses the dehumanizing process in shock and heartbreak.

Goldblum and Davis were engaged at the time they shot the revered horror movie remake, having actually met on the set of a 1985 horror-comedy movie called Transylvania 6-5000, and tied the knot the following year, only to split in 1990, according to People. Their genuine affection for each other, which appears to have survived their divorce, based on their 2024 SAG Awards appearance, explodes on the screen, cementing The Fly as one of horror's most unforgettable romantic tragedies.

David Arquette And Courtney Cox (The Scream Movies)

Watching the Scream movies in order is fascinating in the way the cleverly meta slasher franchise traces two notable timelines in pop culture. The subsequent films not only illustrate the modern evolution of the horror genre, but also that of the relationship between two of its most famous stars, David Arquette and Courteney Cox.

The Friends cast member, playing journalist Gale Weathers, and the Dewey Riley actor met on the set of the 1996 original, were dating while they shot the sequel (after some encouragement from Wes Craven), and were married during the third one, but had split before reprising their characters as husband and wife in 2011's Scream 4. However, Cox has since referred to Arquette as her "best friend "(according to People), and that shows in their willingness to reunite and play their roles as divorcees in 2022's Scream, which saw Dewey succumb to Ghostface's knife. However, Arquette has somehow been cast in Scream 7, so it looks like the reign of Dewey and Gale is, thankfully, not over just yet.

Freddie Prinze Jr. And Sarah Michelle Gellar (I Know What You Did Last Summer)

Scream is not the only '90s slasher movie favorite from which romance bloomed behind the scenes. In I Know What You Did Last Summer, Freddie Prinze Jr.'s Ray Bronson may have been dating Jennifer Love Hewitt's Julie James, but the actor really had his eye on their co-star, Sarah Michelle Gellar.

After falling in love on the set of the 1997 thriller, they would later wed in 2002, which is the same year they shared a kiss as Fred and Daphne in the first live-action Scooby-Doo movie. Since Gellar's Helen did not survive the first Summer, the couple was not able to reunite for the arguably more fun 1998 sequel, but she would make a surprise cameo in the 2025 reboot, achieved through a dream sequence, that also allowed her and Prinze the opportunity to have a fun family trip in Australia, where the legacyquel as filmed, as she shared with the country's iteration of Today.

Eli Roth And Lorenza Izzo (Aftershock)

Until their divorce in 2018 after four years of marriage, horror multi-hyphenate Eli Roth and actor and model Lorenza Izzo were one of the genre's top power couples, collaborating on projects like Netflix's Hemlock Grove, The Green Inferno, Knock Knock, and The House with a Clock in Its Walls. Their personal and professional relationship began with a disaster thriller from 2012 called Aftershock.

In addition to co-writing and producing the thriller from director Nicolás López, Roth stars alongside Izzo as survivors of a deadly earthquake in Chile struggling to make it out of the ruined city safely. The Chilean-born actor shared with WWD that she was cast in a leading role when Roth discovered she could speak English and, after spending the entire shoot together and boasting a chemistry that comes through effectively in the film, they became more than scene partners.

It is celebrity couples like these, in addition to the likes of Stranger Things' Charlie Heaton and Natalia Dyer, who prove to me that sometimes the key to a great horror movie, especially ones in which romance plays a pivotal role, is casting two people whose love offscreen is so strong, it's scary.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains massive spoilers for I Know What You Did Last Summer. Seriously, if you haven’t seen the film, you really shouldn’t be reading this… but proceed at your own risk!

We have seen a great number of legacyquels in the last 15 years, but none of them successfully pull off a twist like what audiences experience in writer/director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson’s I Know What You Did Last Summer. While it’s usually the case that legacy characters principally exist to tie the story of the new generation to the past, the new horror movie opts to go much bolder: while Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Julie James retains her Final Girl status, the film reveals that Freddie Prinze Jr.'s Ray Bronson has lost his mind and features him as one of two killers (the other being Sarah Pidgeon’s Stevie Ward).

It’s an unexpected and well-invited shock when it’s revealed in the third act, and one of my favorite parts of the movie (as I tease in my spoiler-free CinemaBlend review of I Know What You Did Last Summer). Not only does the development feel organic, but Freddie Prinze Jr. really sells it – which I learned during an interview with the actor was the result of him going deep emotionally to understand Ray’s journey from hero to villain.

How Ray Bronson Becomes A Killer In I Know What You Did Last Summer

For most of Ray Bronson’s screen time in 2025’s I Know What You Did Last Summer, he seems like a pretty put together dude – albeit one with a couple of chips on his shoulder. He runs his own bar, and he seems like a positive mentor to Stevie, his employee, but it’s also made very clear that things didn’t end well in his marriage to Julie James, and he has long been upset that the town of Southport, North Carolina went above and beyond to sweep all of the murders that occurred in 1997 under the rug.

As it turns out, those chips on his shoulder should have been recognized as red flags. Ray’s relationship with Julie didn’t work out because of his seething anger, and the anger he has long harbored toward the town ends up not just being idle and self-harming. His rage ends up being infectious virus that he spreads to Stevie, and they work together to take revenge on Southport and Stevie’s former friends.

Freddie Prinze Jr. Examined His Friends’ Broken Relationships And Trauma To Get At The Heart Of What Happened To Ray

When a person experiences an extremely traumatic event, it has been proven that it is best for them to not just bottle up all of their feelings. If those emotions aren’t properly address, they can end up becoming toxic and do serious damage. Ray Bronson proves to be a dictionary-worthy case of his psychological phenomenon in the I Know What You Did Last Summer legacyquel, and it’s something in which Freddie Prinze Jr. found a lot of honesty as he was preparing for his performance.

Late last month, I had the pleasure of interviewing the actor alongside Jennifer Kaytin Robinson during the Los Angeles press day for his new film, and while digging into spoiler territory, I asked him about his view on what’s been going on with Ray since audiences last got to see him in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. Prinze Jr. has been married for the last 23 years to his I Know What You Did Last Summer co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar, but he noted that he knows people who had troubled relationships a la Ray and Julie, and his character’s problems started with his inability to properly process being hunted by a serial killer as a teenager. Said the actor,

It’s a cliché, but the phrase “Hurt people hurt people” is a cliché for a reason: if an individual doesn’t properly process their own pain, they are more liable to inflict pain on others. In the cases of some people, that’s limited to emotional pain, but in the case of Ray Bronson, he’s skulking around Southport wearing a slicker and killing folks with a hook and a harpoon gun.

Freddie Prinze Jr. added that the material was heavy, but he has a great deal of fun getting the opportunity to explore the character and then apply what he had discovered in his performance:

Concluding, the actor explained that Ray was a relatively put together guy when we got to see him through the events of the original I Know What You Did Last Summer and I Still Know What You Did Last Summer… but there was a point in the two-and-a-half decades that followed where he just snapped. When Freddie Prinze Jr. understood that and how to play it, it all clicked:

If you’re curious how knowing about the dark journey of Ray Bronson impacts the viewing experience of I Know What You Did Last Summer, the new horror movie is now playing in theaters everywhere – having placed third at the box office in its opening weekend.

Freddie Prinze Jr. made his return to the I Know What You Did Last Summer franchise by appearing as his character, Ray, in the reboot on the 2025 movie schedule. That's exciting for quite a few reasons, too. Not only was the 1997 slasher movie important for the actor in establishing his career, but it’s also how he met his wife, Sarah Michelle Gellar. Now, I’m totally swooning seeing the She's All That star reflect on how he and his wife were “dumb kids who fell in love.”

The I Know What You Did Last Summer couple may have met on set, but Freddie Prinze Jr. said he and Sarah Michelle Gellar didn’t start dating until years later. Then, on GMA, he got real about meeting his future wife and eventually falling in love, take a look:

What’s incredibly cute about Freddie Prinze Jr.’s interview is that he still sounds like a kid in love when reflecting on how he met his wife. It’s the cutest thing! Even though it’s been over 21 years since the pair got married, the Down To You actor talking about the Buffy the Vampire Slayer star still gives him the same boyish grin that’s making me swoon.

On Good Morning America, Freddie Prinze Jr. spoke about meeting on their 1997 slasher movie and driving her to the gym since the New York native didn’t have her license. Then two years later, their friendship blossomed into something more, and they eventually got married in 2002. Here’s how the Summer Catch actor described who the two were when they first met:

That’s the best kind of love when it starts as a friendship only to grow into something completely unexpected. It’s no wonder the two are still going strong.

How Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar fell in love is a storybook romance that many would love to have. When the Boston Legal actor was being a good friend in driving Sarah Michelle Gellar around, their long car rides together were the perfect opportunity to get to know each other.

Their first date in 2000 was supposed to be a friend hangout between the two and another pal at a sushi restaurant. What was originally supposed to be a table for three turned into two when the mutual friend couldn’t make it. Instead of letting the night go to waste, the two actors discovered their undeniable chemistry, and it turned into a date night.

Not only did Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar become a married couple and parents, but they also co-starred in each other’s projects. The Wolf Pack actress had a small non-speaking part in her husband’s rom-com, She’s All That. And you can’t forget the two were the live-action Scooby Doo cast members who played Fred and Daphne. Their real-life chemistry made the Mystery Inc. characters’ pairing all the more memorable.

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. may have been “dumb kids” when they first fell in love, but their longstanding marriage has surpassed a lot of Hollywood couples. So, their lasting romance is a reminder that young love really can grow beautifully.

It’s been nearly three decades since Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. first fought off the hook-wielding murderer in I Know What You Did Last Summer, and now they’re back. The legacy sequel of the same name is set to hit the 2025 movie calendar on July 18, and those who have caught early screenings of the slasher are hitting social media with their first reactions. Given how horror fans have been feasting this year, I’m feeling optimistic.

The OG stars are back — yes, Julie and Ray are still alive — and they’re joined by a new group of potential victims played by Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King. and more. There’s no shortage of legacy sequels out there to choose from, and while some sequels turn out to be pretty good, there are some we wish were never made. Which box will IKWYDLS fall into? According to critic Sean Tajipour, it’s the first one. He writes:

Scott Menzel agrees with the enthusiastic response, calling the upcoming horror movie his “favorite film of the summer so far.” The critic praises the newcomers, particularly Sarah Pidgeon and Chase Sui Wonders, who continues to show her range as an actress. Menzel’s post reads:

Juan, self-proclaimed box office expert, says Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt — a classic horror movie final girl — are responsible for some of the best parts of an overall great summer movie. He continues:

Sophia Soto of Nerds of Color says the legacy actors as well as the new generation absolutely kill it in the franchise’s fourth installment, and she recommends watching at least the first two movies before heading to the theater in order to fully appreciate the experience. Soto continues:

That’s some pretty high praise for the latest offering in the horror movie series, with several people calling this their favorite movie of the summer. So, in the words of JLH’s Julie … what are you waiting for? Reserve your seats now, because I Know What You Did Last Summer slashes its way into theaters on Friday, July 18.

It's a great time to be a horror fan. The genre's renaissance is showing no signs of slowing down, and some of the best horror movies have returned to theaters with new sequel. One of the most highly anticipated upcoming horror movies approaching theaters is the new I Know What You Did Last Summer, which will feature the return of Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr.. The latter actor admitted he didn't think this new slasher would ever happen, but explained how Scream actually helped change his mind.

When a new I Know What You Did Last Summer began filming, fans were thrilled when it was announced that Hewitt and Prinze were returning as Julie and Ray respectively. But this isn't necessarily something the She's All That actor expected. In a post from ET's Instagram, he was asked if he ever expected to be walking a the red carpet with his wife Sarah Michelle Gellar on another installment of the slasher franchise. He answered honestly:

I mean, this makes sense. The new Scream movies have broken records at the box office, so there's a clear interest in those beloved '90s horror movies. And as a huge fan of I Know What You Did Last Summer, I'm hyped to see The Fisherman back on the big screen.

Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar met on the set of the first movie, so it's obviously a big part of their story. Fans loved seeing them walk the carpet together at the movie's recent premiere, and it sounds like the pair of horror icons were enjoying themselves as well. As Prinze shared in the same interview:

My heart is melting. Children of the '90s have spent decades stanning Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar. We've watched as they grew up and created a family together, which is why it's thrilling to see them back on the carpet together. And while SMG won't appear in the new IKWYDLS (she's dead remember?), she did visit the set and is a cheerleader for the franchise.

It should be interesting to see how this new slasher performs, and if it kickstarts a brand new life for the franchise. As a reminder, you can watch the I Know What You Did Last Summer trailer below:

A very limited amount of footage has been released for the new IKWYDLS movie, so it's unclear exactly how much Julie and Ray factor into the story. While we're seemingly following a new group of teens who are being stalked by The Fisherman, fans are excited to see the legacy characters back in the action. Although I'm still sad that Brandy isn't returning as Karla. Maybe she can if another sequel is ordered, especially since Brandy was in talks to return for the latest sequel.

All will be revealed when I Know What You Did Last Summer hits theaters on July 18th as part of the 2025 movie release list. Let's just hope Ray and Julie both survive and can return if more sequels happen.

With the release of the new I Know What You Did Last Summer right around the corner on the 2025 movie schedule, I figured it was time for me to finally watch the 1997 classic. I’ll say it, it spooked me on many occasions. So, when Freddie Prinze Jr., who is returning alongside Jennifer Love Hewitt for the reboot, said modern audiences would probably laugh at this OG movie, I was quick to disagree.

Now, there’s more nuance to this. On the whole, I disagree with Prinze. However, I do get his point. While promoting his upcoming horror movie with Fandango, he started off his explanation by talking about how the horror genre rapidly evolves, saying:

Now, to an extent, I get this. I also think his point crosses genres, and doesn’t just apply to horror. As my not-so-positive opinions about Superbad show, comedy can (and oftentimes is) generational. And that means some folks will appreciate it way more than others. That can be said about many movies across genres, too. But there are also timeless films in each genre.

For example, to me, Scream is a great and timeless flick. It’s one of the best horror movies ever, it came out in 1996, and while it’s purposefully funny, it’s also still very scary and gory. I wasn’t laughing at it the way Prinze implied I might be. And the same can be said for I Know What You Did Last Summer, so to an extent, I don’t agree with the actor’s following comments:

When I watched I Know What You Did Last Summer a few days ago with my friend, I literally talked to her about the multiple jump scares that genuinely got me. Every kill in the movie, especially Helen's, had me on edge, and that final battle on the boat was extremely tense.

So, no, I wasn’t laughing at I Know What You Did Last Summer, and I’d consider myself a modern audience member in this case, since I watched it for the first time almost 30 years late.

However, again, I see what Freddie Prinze Jr. is saying, especially with his following point:

Some movies don’t age well. Also, in the realm of horror, I think he’s right; it’s gotten more intense and scarier with each generation. However, I also wouldn’t laugh in such a dismissive way at this movie or many others.

There’s a reason it’s a cult classic and got not only a sequel but a 2025 remake. I certainly wasn’t laughing at I Know What You Did Last Summer in the way that its star was implying, even though I do agree that the genre has evolved. The slasher is effective, tense, and at times genuinely scary. So, I think Freddie Prinze Jr. should give his movie and us a bit more credit to appreciate classics like this 1997 film.

It's a great time to be a horror fan like me. The genre has been thriving for years now, with some of the best horror movies returning to theaters with new sequels. One of the most highly anticipated upcoming horror movies is that type of project, the new I Know What You Did Last Summer. And the first trailer gave the Fisherman a new weapon and brought back Jennifer Love Hewitt.

The original IKWYDLS movie is super re-watchable, and the sequel is also a memorable part of '90s horror culture. The upcoming sequel is expected to be connected those two slashers, especially thanks to the inclusion of franchise heroes Julie (Hewitt) and Ray (Freddie Prinze Jr.) Both of them were featured briefly in the above teaser, along with flashes of The Fisherman's kills.

The trailer opens on two of the new characters making their debut in the slasher movie. In what could be the first big kill of the movie, we see the Fisherman stalk them in their home, and use a harpoon gun to sneak up on his victim. But don't worry, his hook still gets plenty of screen time throughout this trailer.

Like many Legacy-quels before it, it looks like I Know What You Did Last Summer will focus on new characters, but bring back the OGs when they need help. Looks like another group of teens are being hunted for covering up a death, but this time there are two survivors who might be able to help them. Namely, Julie and Ray.

The latter was seen earlier in this teaser, appealing to the authorities in Southport to take the murders seriously. It's unclear if Jennifer Love Hewitt's character is still living in her childhood town, but eventually the teens track her down and beg for help. And that was basically the moment that ends this first trailer.

It's currently unclear how big the roles of the franchise OGs will end up being in this movie. Perhaps it'll be like Neve Campbell's Sidney in 2022's Scream, serving as more of a supporting presence than a protagonist. Either way, Jennifer Love Hewitt's return to the franchise is huge news for horror fans like myself. I have to assume that both she and Prinze are going to come face to face with the new Fisherman sometime throughout the movie's runtime.

Of course, there's another legacy character that's noticeably missing: Brandy's Karla. She notably survived I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, which is still canon for the franchise. Brandy confirmed she was in talks to return, but she hasn't been included in the cast list.

I Know What You Did Last Summer will hit theaters on July 18th as part of the 2025 movie release list. We'll just have to see if Brandy is actually in the film after all.

The horror genre's current renaissance has been a joy for fans like myself, especially since some of the best horror movies returned to theater with new projects. Case in point: the new I Know What You Did Last Summer movie, which is expected to arrive in theaters this July. Jennifer Love Hewitt is returning as final girl Julie James, and just revealed the first look at the upcoming horror movie. I've got to say, she and Freddie Prinze Jr. look pretty incredible.

While set photos from I Know What You Did Last Summer teased the Fisherman's bloody return to the big screen, fans are particularly interested in seeing Hewitt and Prinze reprise their roles. While the Party of Five alum has been busy on 9-1-1 (steaming with a Hulu subscription), she also took the time to post on Instagram with the sneak peek images from IKWYDLS. Check it out below, and scroll to find some beautiful shots of Hewitt and Prinze:

Julie and Ray are back, baby! And while I would have loved to see Brandy also back as Karla, seeing these two horror characters back for the first time since I Still Know What You Did Last Summer hit theaters back in 1998. I've got to give credit where credit is due: they both look pretty incredible in these first looks from People.

Of course the new cast of actors who are going to be in I Know What You Did Last Summer are prominently featured in the first image. They'll seemingly be a big focus of the story, as they follow in the steps of Julie and her friends and try to avoid the same fate. A synopsis for the upcoming slasher reads:

Except for a few details, this seems like a pretty identical situation that occurred to the teenagers in the 1997 original film. Although this time the group who is being hunted down by a mysterious figure with a fisherman's hook will have someone to turn to. Namely, the legacy characters played by Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. respectively.

As previously mentioned, I was really hoping Brandy would also be getting in on the fun as her legacy character Karla. While Brandy confirmed she was in talks, she's been noticeably absent from any announcements/ the cast list.

I Know What You Did Last Summer is currently expected to arrive in theaters on July 18th as part of the 2025 movie release list. So we should expect more images and even footage to come as time passes.

We’ve known for a while that franchise OGs Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr would be returning to the I Know What You Did Last Summer set more than 25 years after the original film hit theaters. But it’s one thing to know something is coming and quite another to see it play out on-screen. Even if you don’t care about the former teen heartthrobs specifically, Sony just dropped the first-look footage at the upcoming horror movie I Know What You Did Last Summer 2025, and one more word I need to throw out there is: harpoon.

We’ve been hearing about I Know What You Did Last Summer for some time now, and while news has been coming down the pipeline steadily, all we’ve really gotten in terms of a “look” at the movie so far is one measly poster for the upcoming sequel. Audiences at CinemaCon 2025 were in for a treat, however, and luckily CinemaBlend was on hand to live blog the entire Sony event!

The Murder Sequence Shown In The First Footage Is Intense

Obviously, I'm about to get into some first look spoilers, so I hope that's what you came here for. If not, now would be a great time to check out one of our other awesome articles.

The new footage opens up at night with a couple in a lit kitchen. There are lots of open windows to the outside, which feels very dark and ominous. He encourages her to take a bath and put on some headphones while she does a meditation. He stays in the kitchen to clean up when he notices a light flicker on and off outside. He goes to investigate, and a harpoon plows through the glass and into his body.

He turns to try and get away and the harpoon gets ripped back and sent flying. Meanwhile, the woman (Glass Onion's Madelyn Cline) is still in the tub doing her guided meditation with headphones on. She can't hear a thing. The audience can see and hear, however, and what we see are a pair of sturdy rubber boots and a large hook. The young folk in Southport are about to start dying… again.

The good news? Some folks have been there before.

Freddie Prinze Jr. And Jennifer Love Hewitt Show Up And Did Not Disappoint

We get flashes of the beautiful Southport in the daylight juxtaposed with some more chilling footage. Then, of course Freddie Prince Jr.’s Ray Bronson pops up onscreen, though he has so much more grey hair than the last time we’ve seen him in the role! He gets one line and it’s a doozy, noting, “this isn’t the first time there’s been violence like this in Southport."

But, of course, the violence will only end when the killer is caught, and to catch that killer the young residents of Southport are going to need the help of Julie James (Hewitt)! The best moment in this entire trailer obviously has to do with Hewitt’s character, who is asked for help as part of the Sony footage. Julie James responds, “I just have one question: What did you do last summer?"

We saw a lot of great stuff during the Sony Panel. The new Beyond The Spider-verse footage wasn’t even fully animated yet and still looked flipping cool. The Karate Kid: Legends trailer (which everyone will be getting tomorrow) looked awesome. Tom Holland announced the title of Spider-Man 4! The Beatles are getting four movies in one day from Sam Mendes! But it’s Jennifer Love Hewitt iconically asking “What did you do last summer?" that is sticking with me tonight. And when the studio officially unleashes the official trailer on fans, both OG and new alike, I hope everyone gets as pumped as I did.

The first look felt to me like a solid nod to the past while still being its own thing, and I'm excited to see what else the public gets tot see coming up. I Know What You Did Last Summer is hitting the 2025 movie release schedule on July 18, 2025.

There have been all kinds of different eras throughout WWE’s history. The New Generation, the Attitude Era, the Ruthless Aggression phase, the PG-TV days, and others quickly come to mind. But one that is thankfully mostly forgotten these days is the WWE Raw Celebrity Host era between 2009 and 2014. Celebrity involvement in WWE has always been a thing going back to WrestleMania 1, but the company went overboard over a decade ago, and so many random names hosted or appeared on the flagship show.

Here are 32 random celebrities who hosted Monday Night Raw…

Bob Barker - September 7, 2009

In addition to being one of the best game show hosts of all time, the late Bob Barker was also one of the most unforgettable Raw hosts. Appearing on a September 2009 episode, the The Price is Right legend held a WWE-themed version of the show, which included an appearance from the villainous Irwin R. Schyster.

William Shatner - February 1, 2010

William Shatner has had multiple appearances on Raw over the years (his 1995 run-in with Jerry “The King” Lawler is hilarious), so it only made sense for the Star Trek icon to host WWE’s flagship show in February 2010. Captain Kirk singing WWE superstars’ entrance themes was not what anyone expected, but it was still wild and low-key great.

Pee-Wee Herman - November 1, 2010

Pee-Wee Herman, aka the late Paul Reubens, hosted Monday Night Raw back in November 2010 when the weekly show was broadcast from the iconic Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York. Herman had some great run-ins throughout the night and was even paired up with Big Show, who was dressed up like the beloved character.

Jeremy Piven - August 3, 2009

If you’ve watched any WWE clip shows over the years, you have more than likely seen the infamous “SummerFest” promo from Jeremy Piven. Appearing on Raw to promote The Goods in August 2009, the Entourage star flubbed and gave WWE’s SummerSlam an unintentional new name on live TV.

Jerry Springer - February 15, 2010

Jerry Springer and WWE go hand-in-hand, so it was only a matter of time before the late TV show host popped up on Monday Night Raw. In February 2010, the former mayor of Cincinnati showed up to host the weekly wrestling show where he added some of the gimmicks from the long-running Jerry Springer show.

Betty White - February 10, 2014

Betty White did a lot in her nearly 100 years on this planet, including hosting Monday Night Raw in February 2014. Though the Golden Girls star didn’t clothesline anyone or compete in the Elimination Chamber, she did have some great moments on the mic in various promo segments.

Seth Green - July 13, 2009

Seth Green was one of the first Monday Night Raw celebrity hosts. But the Robot Chicken co-creator did more than just talk, as he got himself involved in a six-man tag main event in which he teamed up with John Cena and Triple H where they defeated Legacy.

Hugh Jackman - September 19, 2011

Hugh Jackman has been on Raw a couple of times over the years, with the better of the two being his time on the show promoting Real Steel in September 2011. Near the end of the match, Wolverine got in on the action and clocked United States Champion Dolph Ziggler in the jaw, helping Zack Ryder win a non-title match. That punch was just so great!

Arnold Schwarzenegger And Joe Manganiello - March 24, 2014

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Joe Manganiello showed up on Monday Night Raw in March 2014 to promote their action flick, Sabotage. But while doing so, the pair of actors also got physical with The Miz, who tried to crash their in-ring promo with Hulk Hogan.

Shaquille O’Neal - July 27, 2009

Shaquille O’Neal famously showed up in the 3rd Annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 32, but that wasn’t his first time in WWE. Back in 2009, when he was still playing basketball, Shaq appeared on Raw and had a hilarious interaction with Chris Jericho. Seriously, Y2J looks like a child next to the Pro Basketball Hall of Famer.

The Muppets - October 31, 2011

The Muppets and WWE are two things you probably never thought you’d see together. Well, that happened in October 2011 when beloved characters like Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and Beaker (his run-in with Sheamus is hilarious) all showed up on the Raw Supershow.

David Hasselhoff - April 12, 2010

A couple of weeks after WrestleMania 26, David Hasselhoff showed up on Monday Night Raw recorded from London’s O2 Arena. The special guest host entered the ring to one of his own songs, danced around with some ladies, and then kicked off the night’s festivities. It was wild, it was random, and it was just something to see.

The Hot Tube Time Machine Cast - March 29, 2010

Around the release of Hot Tub Time Machine, Rob Corddry and Clark Duke served as the guest hosts of Monday Night Raw. Much like the movie itself, this appearance is largely forgotten by most. However, there was an incredibly awkward hot tub segment that was saved by Mark Henry and Hornswoggle.

Pete Rose - March 22, 2010

Pete Rose had some unfortunate run-ins with Kane back during the height of the Attitude Era (the Big Red Machine put a beating on the Hit King at WrestleMania 14 and 15), and history repeated itself when the notorious baseball player hosted Raw in March 2010. The man was shook when an unmasked Kane confronted him backstage.

Cyndi Lauper - June 18, 2012

Cyndi Lauper, who famously sang “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” has long been connected with WWE, having appeared during the inaugural WrestleMania. So, it only seemed natural for her to show up and have some fun on Raw in June 2012 when she helped put a beating on Heath Slater, who was in the middle of a run in which he got destroyed by all kinds of returning stars.

Kevin Hart - June 16, 2014

Kevin Hart, who was in the middle of his unprecedented rise to the top of the pop culture mountain, appeared on Monday Night Raw in June 2014. He made jokes, he got in the ring, and he hung out with Adam Rose and his Rosebuds. It was a strange time in WWE, and this was one of the wildest moments of that summer.

Ashton Kutcher - May 31, 2010

Ashton Kutcher showing up on Raw is so random, but again, this was WWE in May 2010. It was a weird transitional period where the company was trying anything and willing to throw anything at the wall to see if it stuck.

Mike Tyson - January 11, 2010

A little over a decade after showing up and making WrestleMania 14 one of the biggest nights in wrestling history, Mike Tyson hosted a January 2010 episode of Monday Night Raw where he did everything from intimidate wrestlers to hang out with Hornswoggle. The image of the notorious boxer hanging out backstage surrounded by Fight Night Round 4 posters and games was a sight to see.

Flavor Flav - May 10, 2010

If you thought Flavor Flav giving a weather report on the Salt Lake City news was something, wait until you hear about his May 2010 appearance on Monday Night Raw. During the Public Enemy rapper’s one-night stint on the show, he joked, he rapped, and he worked with R-Truth. Can we get him to come back and team up with Truth again? Please?

Freddie Prinze Jr. - August 17, 2009

Freddie Prinze Jr. showing on Monday Night Raw isn’t the most random thing, considering the I Know What You Did Last Summer and She’s All That star was a longtime writer for WWE’s creative team. The man knows wrestling and knows how to have a laugh at his own expense, as was shown in a segment on an August 2009 episode where Santino Marella approaches Prinze with an idea for a new chapter in his slasher series.

Jon Lovitz - May 24, 2010

Jay Sherman from The Critic would probably say “It stinks!” when talking about WWE’s celebrity host era, but Jon Lovitz, who voiced the character, seemed to have a lot of fun when he hosted Raw in May 2010. Did he look like a fish out of water? Sure,

Jon Heder And Don Johnson - January 18, 2010

Did you know Jon Heder and Don Johnson made a movie together? Well, it’s true. Back in January 2018, the Napoleon Dynamite star and Miami Vice legend shared the screen in When in Rome led by Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel. On top of that, the two co-hosted Raw where they formed a short-lived (one-night) tag team.

Larry King - October 8, 2012

Legendary talk show host Larry King died in January 2021, leaving behind memories of some of the best interviews in the history of radio and TV. But did you know that King appeared on an October 2012 episode of Monday Night Raw where he gave fans a new spin on his classic format? Well, it happened, and it involved The Miz getting all heated when pressed by King. Sadly, King didn’t choke him out, but it was fun to watch.

The Three Stooges - April 9, 2012

The Three Stooges, or the versions played by Will Sasso, Sean Hayes, and Chris Diamantopoulos in the 2012 comedy inspired by the classic comedy trio, showed up on Monday Night Raw to promote the Farrelly Brothers movie. The saving grace of the whole appearance was Sasso coming out dressed as Hulk Hogan. It was incredible and you could tell the MadTV star was genuinely having fun out in the ring.

Aaron Paul - March 3, 2014

When making his rounds on the promotional circuit for Need for Speed in March 2014, Breaking Bad alum Aaron Paul showed up and hosted Monday Night Raw. This was one of the final guest host spots, and it’s one that’s pretty forgettable more than a decade later.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. - August 24, 2009

A year and a few months after defeating Big Show at WrestleMania 24, boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. showed up on Monday Night Raw in August 2009. During the appearance, Mayweather had a confrontation with Big Show and Chris Jericho (Jeri-Show) and eventually stood in the corner of Mark Henry and MVP in a tag match later that night.

The MacGruber Cast - April 19, 2010

Will Forte and Kristen Wiig popped up on Monday Night Raw in April 2010 to promote MacGruber, but they didn’t come as themselves. Instead, the SNL alum came in character, which resulted in some hilarious run-ins with WWE superstars, several of whom showed up in the satirical action comedy.

Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi - March 14, 2011

Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, best known for her time on Jersey Shore, had a little WrestleMania run back in 2011, which included a spot on Monday Night Raw. A few weeks later, the TV star would pull off the impossible and get a win at the “Showcase of the Immortals.”

Mark Cuban - December 7, 2009

Mark Cuban knows a thing or two about tense situations, though none of his work on Shark Tank could have prepared him for what happened when he hosted Raw in December 2009. After moderating a segment involving Sheamus and John Cena prior to their TLC match, the Celtic Warrior slammed Cuban through a table propped up in the corner.

Dennis Miller - December 14, 2009

Dennis Miller showed up for the 2009 Slammy Awards on Monday Night Raw and spent the better part of his time making political jokes and providing commentary on WWE superstars with some so-bad-it’s-good Photoshop skills. People chuckled but quickly forgot the segment.

Johnny Knoxville - October 4, 2010

Long before Johnny Knoxville defeated Sami Zayn in one of the most chaotic matches on the WrestleMania 38 card, the stuntman-turned-Hollywood star hosted an October 2010 episode of Monday Night Raw. Taking place days before the release of Jackass 3D, Knoxville pulled out some hilarious pranks, with Ted Dibiase Jr. on the receiving end of the torment.

Ozzy And Sharon Osbourne - November 2, 2009

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne were inescapable in the 2000s, so it was only natural for the pair to host an episode of Monday Night Raw in November 2009. Their Raw’s Got Talent segment is without a doubt one of the worst things to ever happen on Raw, which is saying something.

While the 2024 movies designed to thrill, delight, and scare audiences seem to have been doing the trick, there are more projects already looking to step into the limelight. The recently announced I Know What You Did Last Summer legacy-quel is such a project, especially with OG stars Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt both in talks to return.

Fans are going to love the latest update on the other massive late ‘90s horror hit’s new groove, as the next chapter has now officially cast a legacy actor, with even more good news waiting on the hook. Per reporting out of Variety, fans of Ray Bronson should be prepared to see what he looks like almost three decades later.

That’s because Freddie Prinze Jr. has now been announced as confirmed to be returning for what will be his third appearance in the series. As Prinze’s earlier I Know What You Did Last Summer update had him noted as “in talks,” this announcement feels like it’s been a long time coming. Speaking of “talks,” the other good news about this report is the fact that Jennifer Love Hewitt is working on her own deal to potentially return as well.

Fans of both entries in the I Know What You Did Last Summer franchise could probably say this was something bound to happen. I mean, Hewitt herself teased the possibility earlier this year as well, but in a post-Scream VI world, we horror folks have learned not to take legacy cast members’ returns as granted. Still, if only a contract is standing between the 9-1-1 star and a new round of terror, the matter is still further along than it was yesterday.

The clock continues to tick on though, as the new I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel is rumored to start shooting in October. We’ve already seen scheduling conflicts alter the roster of young cast members, as Riverdale alum Camilla Mendes left the film to fulfill her role in the latest iteration of the cinematic reboot of Masters of the Universe. So while you might be inspired to celebrate both Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt being back in the mix, you should hold off until that dotted line is signed.

A fourth I Know What You Did Last Summer picture is something legacy fans are probably still pumped over, and that fact could work in Hewitt’s favor at the bargaining table. But just in case there is a last minute break down in negotiations, at least 1998’s I Still Know What You Did Last Summer did the series a favor in setting up a potential exit for Julie:

We’ll have to continue to wait and see what happens with the latest I Know What You Did Last Summer legacy-quel. But in the meantime, you can stream the original 1997 classic, on AMC+, which can easily be added onto a valid Prime Video subscription.

If you’re looking for what’s about to go bump in the night in the near future, the upcoming horror movies schedule is there to shed some light in the darkness. That way, you’ll always know what you’ll watch next summer.

Horror fans are a loyal bunch, frequently turning out to see new installments of franchises like Halloween, Scream and The Purge. With such a following within the genre, it’s no wonder why studios are motivated to reinvigorate some of the classics. This seems to be the case for I Know What You Did Last Summer, which will be getting a sequel in the near future. When plans for the follow-up film were announced, it was reported there were talks of stars Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt returning. Now Prinze is giving an update on where creatives are at in the process and if fans can expect to see him in 2025’s I Know What You Did Last Summer.

The She’s All That actor recently chatted with Us Magazine about the potential for him to join the project. He initially teased a return to the horror genre back in 2022 before it was announced that plans for a new IKWYDLS were underway, so this would be a great opportunity. The movie is already dated for next summer, with Madelyn Cline to lead, but official news regarding the OG cast actually returning has been pretty minimal. Thankfully, Prinze is providing the update we’ve all been waiting for. He said:

While nothing is official, it seems like all parties are keen on trying to make this work. Hewitt provided her own update back in May regarding her participation, which also seemed hopeful. The actress is nervous considering the amount of time that has passed between the teen horror films, but she said she's also grateful for the opportunity to reprise her character.

Sarah Michelle Gellar, however, may not be able to bring Helen Shivers back, considering the ending of the OG movie, but she remains coy about her status, which is also exciting. If this doesn’t work out, it doesn’t seem to be due to a creative problem, as Prinze revealed everyone is happy with the script. He continued:

Everything that can be done to get Prinze to return seems to be in motion, so while fans can’t get their hopes up, this update is a good sign. IKWYDLS already has a release date on the upcoming horror movie schedule, so if his own schedule doesn't line up, the film is definitely happening either way. The initial film followed four friends who are bound by mysterious and creepy happenings in a seaside town. The new film will center around a similar premise with the central figures being pursued by a stalker. This will technically be a threequel film, as I Still Know What You Did Last Summer was a less successful direct-to-video sequel released in 1998.

Aside from just some key cast members potentially returning, there's a lot for I Know What You Did Last Summer fans to be excited about. The creatives on the project have expressed a desire to keep all the things that made the original so special, like a cool young cast and a premise that appeals to teens, while also updating it to reflect the modern age. It sounds like a great move and definitely a smart way to separate itself from the original while also preserving what OG fans love. Hopefully schedules will line up and Freddie Prinze Jr.’s role will be secured so we will have even more to anticipate.

I Know What You Did Last Summer’s 21st century update is currently slated for a July 18, 2025 release. In the meantime, you can check out Freddie Prinze Jr. in his latest film, The Girl In The Pool, which is currently available to rent on Amazon. Fans can also revisit the original 1997 I Know What You Did Last Summer for free now on XumoPlay.

For those who grew up in the ‘90s and early ‘00s, it’s hard not to think about Freddie Prinze Jr’s mark on pop culture at the time as a certified on-screen heartthrob of the time. From She’s All That to Scooby-Doo, audiences are used to seeing a certain side of the actor, which he is definitely not playing in his new movie, The Girl In The Pool. The new role in one of the latest of 2024 movies has Prinze Jr. very excited to show the world this new facet of his acting capabilities.

Freddie Prinze Jr. Goes Against Type For New Movie 

The Girl In The Pool is a crime thriller that has Prinze Jr. playing a man named Tom who is having a rendezvous with his mistress when she somehow is suddenly found dead in his pool during the meeting. To make matters worse, amidst him hiding the body, his wife (played by Monica Potter) and family throw him a surprise party in the same location shortly after, leading tensions to run incredibly high. While speaking to Us Weekly about the new role, Freddie Prinze Jr. said this:

During the interview, Prinze Jr. also called Tom an “emasculated” man who is “ruled by compliments and criticism” throughout the journey of The Girl In The Pool. As he continued:

The Girl In The Pool is a small film that was done in just two weeks across the same location. Prinze Jr. found the shoot to be an “intense” experience, particularly because he was leading the whole production and would shoot 10 pages of script a day.

Looking Back At Freddie Prinze Jr’s Past Roles 

Freddie Prinze Jr. cannot relate to his The Girl In The Pool character, considering he just celebrated 21 years of marriage with Sarah Michelle Gellar this past fall. The couple have two kids together and remain open about their sweet love story. It’s great to see him venturing away from his typical roles, because he does have an affinity to play good guys in movies.

There’s plenty of examples to talk about. Prinze Jr’s breakthrough gig was the first I Know What You Did Last Summer movie (which he is rumored to return to with the 2025 sequel) back in 1997 where he played who is one of the main protagonists of the teen horror movie. His other early hit was in 1999’s She’s All That, as a jock who unexpectedly falls in love with the school’s outcast during a bet with his friends. Or what about his portrayal of Fred Jones in the Scooby-Doo movies where he played a loyal and empty-head teen, who is self-obsessed yes, but rather harmless.

Sometimes what you're cast as early in your career is who you continue to be. Not for Prinze Jr! You can see Freddie Prinze Jr. in The Girl In the Pool now, playing in select theaters and available to rent and buy on digital platforms.

It feels like only a handful of celebrity couples truly form relationships that manage to have longevity. So it’s always refreshing whenever a famous pair celebrates a big anniversary. Perhaps two of the most beloved famous spouses in the industry are Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar. They met while filming I Know What You Did Last Summer in 1997, started dating three years later and were engaged just one year later. They eventually married in 2002 and are still going strong to this day. And to mark their 21st anniversary, Gellar dropped a sweet throwback photo, and I am swooning so hard right now.

It's pretty wild to think that by the time the first live-action Scooby-Doo hit, the actors who played Fred and Daphne were already engaged. And by the second film's release, they were over a year into their marriage. Based on what we've seen of them in public, it feels like their love has only grown over the years. Maintaining a marriage while working in Hollywood is an impressive feat and, in this case, it's a testament to just how much Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. love each other. With that, on Instagram, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer icon shared a sweet photo from their wedding day, asking her hubby, “what’s customary for 21 years." See it for yourself:

So I think we all just need to do a collective "Awwww" after seeing that post. The photo she shared is absolutely adorable and a beautiful way to mark an anniversary. They've posted about their wedding in past social media posts, of course, but fans don't seem to tire of them harkening back to that lovely day. One just can't help but melt a bit inside over this post, given the romantic vibes that emanate from it. All in all, it's further evidence of just how cute the two are as a couple.

In April, Sarah Michelle Gellar posted a sweet throwback video with photo collages of her and her husband, with Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” playing in the background. She noted that it’s not their anniversary nor either one's birthday, “but sometimes memories pop into your head and you just feel like commemorating.” They are truly the ultimate couple goals, and every time they express love for one another, it’s almost immediately swoon-worthy. 

Aside from I Know What You Did Last Summer and the Scooby-Doo films, the spouses worked with each other on Happily N’Ever After and Star Wars: Rebels. Gellar also had a non-speaking cameo in She’s All That in 1999 since the teen comedy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer were filming at the same high school simultaneously. At present, the two stars continue to work but also seem to be very devoted to their two kids, a daughter and son. Here's to more years of happiness for Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr.! And on that same token, let's hope their romance yields even more posts that are enough to make one swoon as time goes on.

Anyone eager to watch some of their collaborations can access I Know What You Did Last Summer with a Hulu subscription and the Scooby-Doo movies with a Max subscription.

While some people know Freddie Prinze Jr. for roles like Ray Bronson in I Know What You Did Last Summer or Fred Jones in the first two live-action Scooby-Doo movies (though he has “regret” over doing those flicks), Star Wars fans recognize him as the voice of Kanan Jarrus in Star Wars Rebels, which Disney+ subscribers can stream. However, if you were hoping to ever hear the actor voice the Jedi again, or potentially even see him play the character in live-action, that’s not happening. Prinze gave a blunt reason for why he won’t return for other Star Wars projects, and William Shatner would probably approve of it.

During a visit to The Big Thing podcast, Prinze chatted about his Star Wars experience among other topics, which included revealing that he only did that vocal cameo in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as a “favor,” and otherwise has no interest in returning to a galaxy far, far away. When host Kristian Harloff asked if this meant “no Ahsoka,” the actor responded:

I’d be remiss not to mention that Kanan Jarrus did get laid given the presence of his and Hera Syndulla’s son, Jacen, in the Star Wars Rebels series finale, but that’s beside the point. Freddie Prinze Jr. made it clear he’s moved on from Star Wars, and on top of that mentioned that he was more of a Star Trek fan in his younger years, which had more sexual content to his liking. So this should warm the heart of William Shatner, the original James T. Kirk who’s been known to makes jokes at Star Wars’ expense every now and then. Perhaps more importantly, the people running the new Star Trek TV shows that air to Paramount+ subscribers should consider finding a role for Prinze since he’s such a fan.

Of course, Star Wars Rebels viewers will remember that Kanan died towards the end of the show’s run, sacrificing his life in “Jedi Night” so that Hera and the other Spectres could escape from the Empire. Still, between flashbacks and possibly being able to take Force Ghost form, it’s not like there’s a lack of options for bringing him back, but that’s not something Prinze is interested in doing given how the character’s arc concluded. He continued:

Following Star Wars Rebels’ conclusion in 2018, in addition to the aforementioned Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker cameo, Freddie Prinze Jr. also briefly returned as Kanan in Star Wars: The Bad Batch’s premiere episode, where the teenaged version of the character watched his master, Depa Billaba, be murdered during Order 66. Now obviously Kanan could still appear in Star Wars books and comic book series in the coming years, but as far as him being depicted on screen, unless Lucasfilm wants to recast the role, then don’t get your hopes up for that happening again.

If you are interested in what this space opera franchise has coming up, check out the lineup of upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows, or you can plant your feet firmly in the past by marathoning the Star Wars movies in order on Disney+. Ahsoka premieres on the platform this August.

Over 20 years after its release, 2002’s Scooby-Doo remains a beloved fantasy-comedy. The big-screen adaptation, which was written by James Gunn and directed by Raja Gosnell, arguably endeared itself to audiences through its playful tone and reverence to its cartoon roots. But one of its biggest highlights, however, is its impeccable cast, which includes Freddie Prinze Jr. as Fred Jones. Though many people love Prinze in the role of Mystery Inc.’s leader, the actor himself apparently has “regret” over doing the movie and its 2004 sequel, Monsters Unleashed. However, while explaining that remorse, he also revealed the moment that he truly came to appreciate the two flicks.

If there’s anything you need to know about Freddie Prinze Jr., it’s that he doesn’t mince words when it comes to his experiences in Hollywood. That includes his time working on Warner Bros.’ big-screen Scooby-Doo duology. The fan-favorite actor was recently asked if he’d consider doing an adult-skewing third movie in the series. Alas, fans may be sad to hear that Prinze isn’t interested, and he attributes that to his dealings with the studio back in the day:

The I Know What You Did Last Summer icon later reasoned that even though decades have passed, some of the same execs are probably still at the studio. And as he also explained during the interview with TooFab, after someone lies to him once, they’re “dead to me.” So it would seem that the leading man has a “fool me once…” sort of mentality when it comes to his business dealings. Though it’s sad to hear that he wouldn’t reconsider playing Fred again, one can definitely understand his feelings on the matter. 

On a more heartwarming note though, Freddie Prinze Jr.’s view of the movies themselves has changed for the better over the years. The 47-year-old actor explained that this is due to his sweet encounters with fans:

There’s definitely a lot of nostalgia wrapped around those Scooby-Doo movies, which have trended on Netflix off and on over the years. In that time, the cast and crew have also shared details about the first film’s original tone, which was more so geared towards adults. James Gunn previously revealed that Velma was gay in his OG script. Daphne actress (and Freddie Prinze Jr.'s loving wife) Sarah Michelle Gellar recently revealed a deleted line directed at Fred’s sexuality. In addition, Gellar recently shared thoughts on a third movie and doesn’t seem to think it’ll happen since WB is mostly focusing on animated Mystery Inc. fare these days.

Though another installment doesn’t seem to be in the cards, the first two are sure to remain in the hearts and minds of fans for years to come. And I’d certainly agree with Freddie Prinze Jr. when he says that he, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Linda Cardellini, Matthew Lillard and co. “did good.”

Those who’d like to revisit Scooby-Doo and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed can do so by streaming them for free on Tubi.

It's a good time to be a horror fan. The genre has been experiencing a thrilling renaissance for years, to the joy of moviegoers. Some of the best horror movies have returned to theaters in new sequels and reboots, including Halloween, Scream, and Child's Play. Now it seems that the trend will continue, as I Know What You Did Last Summer is getting a sequel. What's more, two of the original stars are already lined up. Bring on the bloody fun!

This thrilling news comes to us from Deadline, and is sure to turn the heads of horror fans out there. With horror continuing to be super profitable, it seems like any franchise could return again. That includes I Know What You Did Last Summer, which is reportedly getting a new movie from director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Do Revenge). To make things all the more exciting, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. are in talks to reprise their roles as franchise heroes Julie James and Ray Bronson. 

Not much is known about this upcoming I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel, as it's still very much in its development process. But according to the first report by Deadline, producer Neal H. Mortiz is in talks to return to produce this installment. Writer Leah McKendrick will be writing this next slasher movie. And it should be fascinating to see how the narrative continues so long after the original two movies. 

The original I Know What You Did Last Summer was based on the Lois Duncan novel of the same name and was released back in 1997. It centers on four friends who dump a man's body after a hit-and-run, and after being hunted by a hooked killer a year later. In addition to Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr., the all-star cast included Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Johny Galecki, and late actress Anne Heche. A TV adaptation was released on Prime Video in 2021, but it was cancelled after one season. 

That first movie a ton of money at the box office, and a sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer was quickly produced. Unfortunately, the 1998 follow-up didn't end up making quite as much at the box office, although it notably featured Brandy and Julie's college roommate Karla opposite Mekhi Phifer. Could Brandy also be brought back for the new sequel? Fingers crossed.

A new sequel to I Know What You Did Last Summer has the potential to be a major boost to the careers of both Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr.. While the pair have always worked, they haven't been on the big screen in some time. Hewitt proved herself as a captivating Scream Queen, and fans would no doubt be thrilled to see her leaning into those roots again.

It's currently unclear when the new I Know What You Did Last Summer movie might be hitting theaters, as it's still developing. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Among the best Scooby-Doo movies over the years was the 2002 live-action movie starring real-life couple Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. as Daphne and Fred alongside Matthew Lillard’s Fred and Linda Cardelini’s Velma. The movie that was actually written by Guardian of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad’s James Gunn, was originally rated-R, and as Gellar recently shared, had a deleted line that addressed rumors about Fred’s sexuality that fans have often speculated. 

While Sarah Michelle Gellar was promoting her return to her roots in supernatural TV with Wolf Pack, the actress was asked about what could have been on the 2002 comedy. In response, the actress shared that not only did the movie cut a “steamy” kiss between her Daphne and Cardelini’s Velma, but this moment almost happened:  

Over the years, fans have speculated that Fred Jones is actually gay, usually because of his choice of outfit. As Sarah Michelle Gellar shared on Watch What Happens With Andy Cohen, the topic would have come up during a fight between Daphne and Fred. The Buffy actress also said she loved the line so much that it was one of the reasons she wanted to star in the Scooby-Doo movie. However, Warner Bros ended up walking back on the 2002 movie’s more edgy elements and kept Gunn's take on  the Scooby-Doo gang's more fluid sexualities out of it. Check out Gellar’s response on the TV appearance: 

Over a decade ago, Matthew Lillard spoke about this element to the movie on a Reddit Q&A too, sharing that the movie used to be geared to adults a lot more. The Shaggy actor explained that Fred was gay in the movie but when they tested the R-rated cut “parents flipped their lids” and Warner Bros didn’t want to risk the backlash. 

Funny enough, the latest Scooby-Doo entry is a mature animated series called Velma, which has been slammed by critics and viewers for the changes made to the classic cartoon, which includes the series exploring a love story between Daphne and Velma. Surely, audiences in 2002 would have had a problem with an R-rated cut of Scooby-Doo as well. 

Even so, it does make one wonder what the original live-action Doo movie could have been like. Sarah Michelle Gellar isn’t pushing for a Scooby-Doo 3, but you can see her in the new teen werewolf series, Wolf Pack, now streaming with a Paramount+ subscription. 

M. Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense has got one of the wildest movie endings in the history of cinema. Not to mention, it’s also one of those conclusions that people love to spoil for others like wildfire. And Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Sarah Michelle Gellar is apparently one of those people, as she admitted to spoiling film for her husband, Freddie Prinze Jr., years ago. Shyamalan is now aware of that very fact, and he has something to say about it.

Related: 12 Jordan Peele Movies And TV Shows And Where To Watch Them

The Sixth Sense's ending is honestly one of the reasons why audiences have been so drawn to it over the past 23 years. Even today, it's still regarded as one of the best best movie twists M. Night Shyamalan has ever crafted, and you’d never see it coming… unless a certain someone spoiled it for you. While Shyamalan and Sarah Michelle Gellar both appeared on The Graham Norton Show, Gellar spoke about “the most embarrassing story ever," which saw her and hubby Freddie Prinze Jr. watching the acclaimed thriller:

Twenty minutes in, and Freddie Prinze Jr. gets one of the best cinematic reveals of all time spoiled for him. I can relate to Prinze Jr., as The Sixth Sense's ending was revealed to me too by way of one of the best romantic comedies of all time, 50 First Dates. (I guess you'd probably never think that such a reveal would come from an Adam Sandler classic, right?) There are a few people who actually don't mind being spoiled when it comes to movies or TV shows. But I'd argue that the bulk of us would prefer to be surprised when it comes to whatever we're watching.

M. Night Shyamalan is clearly one of those people who would prefer that moviegoers be left in the dark when it comes to his work. When reacting to Sarah Michelle Gellar's funny story and Freddie Prinze Jr.'s decision not to watch a movie with her again, the filmmaker provided a humorously blunt reply:

With that, the director was also relieved that she didn’t spoil the ending for his new movie, Knock at the Cabin. The marketing for the upcoming release has seemingly not spoiled any potential twists. All we know about it so far is that it employs an an apocalyptic twist while telling the story of strangers who break into the remote cabin of a family and tell them one of them has to be sacrificed to prevent the entire world from coming to an end. M. Night Shyamalan’s newest movie has been praised as a fitting entry in the horror genre. We'll have to see if that praise is given by general audiences when it hits theaters as well.

If Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. decide to see Knock at the Cabin, let’s cross our fingers that the upcoming horror movie won't be spoiled for either of them. Make sure that you also dodge spoilers after the film opens in theaters on February 3rd as part of the 2023 new movie release schedule.

Over the past few years, there’s been a seismic shift in the entertainment industry, with plenty of powerful figures being at the center of allegations of being inappropriate on set. Filmmaker Joss Whedon has been at the center of a number of controversies, including a few of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer actors coming out about the experience of working with him. Lead actress Sarah Michelle Gellar has been selective about her comments, while putting her support behind victims who are speaking out. Although her husband Freddie Prinze Jr. got real about the "BS" she dealt with while filming Buffy.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer ran for a whopping seven seasons, and has a devoted fan base that remains to this day. But the show’s legacy has been somewhat altered over the past few years, when actors like Charisma Carpenter, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Amber Benson spoke about the set being a toxic environment, and Joss Whedon’s behavior specifically. While Sarah Michelle Gellar hasn’t shared any of her own stories, her husband Freddie Prinze Jr. recently got honest with THR about what it was like filming that beloved series. As he put it:

There you have it. It sounds like Sarah Michelle Gellar was under a ton of stress while playing the title character of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That includes a great deal of stunts and action sequences, night shoots, and wildly long hours. And if you ask her husband, she wasn’t properly compensated for a lot of that grueling work. Suddenly I’m seeing some real similarities between Gellar and her signature character; they both seemingly had the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Freddie Prinze Jr.’s comments about Gellar and Buffy come from a long story all about SMG, including her personal life and career. After taking a break, she recently stepped back on sets with a supporting role in Netflix’s movie Do Revenge, as well as the new Paramount+ series Wolf Pack. While discussing her return to TV, eventually the conversation turned to Buffy and its complicated legacy related to creator Joss Whedon. 

What Sarah Michelle Gellar has said about Joss Whendon and Buffy

During that interview with THR, Sarah Michelle Gellar carefully addressed her experience working on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She didn’t actually mention Whedon by name, and explained why she’ll likely never share her full story with the public. In her words,

Of course, Freddie Prinze Jr. was a little more vocal, coming to the defense of his wife. But given how many people love Buffy and how much real pain some of her co-stars have related to their experience on the show, Sarah Michelle Gellar opening up the floodgates would be a lose-lose situation. Although she’s no doubt got some stories from those seven seasons saving Sunnydale and the world.

The allegations about Joss Whedon came out in early 2021, when actress Charisma Carpenter (who played Cordelia Chase in both Buffy and Angel) wrote about her harrowing experiences on social media. This led to other actors sharing their experiences online. At that time all eyes were on Sarah Michelle Gellar, who posted her own brief response on Instagram. It read:

There were some talks about Buffy being rebooted, with Sarah Michelle Gellar saying definitively that she wasn’t interested in playing Sunnydale’s protector again. Although with the ongoing situation surrounding Joss Whedon, I have to wonder if that’ll ever actually happen. Luckily for Buffy fans, Gellar is back on television in Wolf Pack.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is streaming on Hulu, and Sarah Michelle Gellar’s new show Wolf Pack will debut January 26th. In the meantime, check out the TV premiere list to plan your next binge watch. 

During the ‘90s and early ‘00s, Freddie Prinze Jr. made a name for himself in Hollywood via rom-coms and YA horror flicks but, in recent years, he’s gained notoriety through other roles. One of those is that of Jedi Kanan Jarrus, who Prinze voiced on all four seasons of Star Wars Rebels. The actor’s performance was praised by fans and, at this point, it’s hard to imagine anyone else voicing the hero. But as it turns out, that could’ve been the case, as Prince revealed that he nearly quit the show at one point. He explained the reason for that and how it led to him standing up to the big brass at Disney. 

The She’s All That icon recently engaged in a discussion about wrestlers and what they must do in order to obtain contracts as well as cash that they’re owed. Freddie Prinze Jr. likened the processes to those in the Hollywood realm, making note of how certain actors are treated within the industry. After putting specific emphasis on performers who do mostly animated productions, he began to discuss his own experiences on Star Wars Rebels and revealed that monetary concerns caused him to come into conflict with the Disney-owned Lucasfilm: 

It sounds like the star was eager to make some lasting change when approaching the execs. Based on the story he shared during the episode of his Wrestling with Freddie podcast, they were not keen on losing their stars. And thank goodness that didn’t come to pass. The veteran actor’s comments point to a bigger, long-standing discussion regarding voiceover artists and their wages, which can reportedly vary by person. It’s a complex topic and one that’s often brought up when it comes to companies such as Disney that own major IPs like Star Wars.

To that point, Rebels became relatively popular following its debut in 2014. The former Disney XD offering was lauded for its animation, writing and voice acting and has since become an important part of the franchise’s canon. Some would argue that it’s must-see content for Clone Wars fans or those who just generally enjoy the galaxy far, far away. Freddie Prinze Jr., for his part, forged a connection with his character and was eventually instrumental in determining Kanan’s fate in Season 4. Though creator Dave Filoni said another season isn’t in the cards, the show’s legacy lives on, as some of its characters will appear on the live-action series Ahsoka.

Freddie Prinze Jr. reprised his role via an off-screen, vocal cameo in 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker and voiced the character again in The Bad Batch in 2021. There’s no telling whether he’ll voice the character again at some point, but anything can certainly happen. And if he does play Kanan again, it’s likely that he’ll be paid a wage that he deems appropriate, given what the actor says transpired years ago. 

You can stream all four seasons of Star Wars Rebels using a Disney+ subscription. Also, be on the lookout for connected shows like The Bad Batch and Ahsoka which are on the 2023 TV schedule.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Sarah Michelle Gellar and She’s All That’s Freddie Prinze Jr. have been married for twenty years. Although funny enough there's a story about the couple getting the date wrong. As for how these two actors of the ‘90s met each other, Freddie Prinze Jr. recently explained the start of their love story.

Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar met as part of the cast of the 1997 slasher film I Know What You Did Last Summer. However, the two didn’t start dating until three years later. While promoting the 2022 Christmas movie Christmas with You, Prinze Jr. spoke to ET Online about how the spark between them got started when he acted as her “chauffeur” during their time as friends.

Interestingly enough, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar didn’t have any romantic scenes together in the ‘90s horror film they were in. They were part of a group of friends where Gellar’s character was dating Ryan Phillippe’s character and Prinze Jr.’s character was with Jennifer Love Hewitt’s. But it proves that not all love is at first sight. Sometimes, it can be years later that a spark develops between two people unexpectedly.

The Scooby-Doo actor continued to explain that opposites really did attract as he started interacting more with his future wife. 

Aww, he still uses the term “girlfriend” to describe her. According to Insider, the couple went on their first date in January 2000 at a sushi restaurant which was originally supposed to be just a hangout between these two and another friend. However, the other friend wasn’t able to attend, so it was just Gellar and Prinze Jr. The chemistry between this couple was so undeniable that this dinner between two friends turned into a date. The Summer Catch actor said he was impressed with Gellar’s appetite compared to other Hollywood girls who only ate salads. I guess that means we can thank the third friend for never showing up!

This Hollywood couple got married in September 2002 after being engaged for a year, but not before becoming two of the original actors in the Scooby-Doo movies. The L.A. native continued to talk about why his wife needed him in her life.

Other than taking part in Happily N'Ever After and Star Wars Rebels, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar share two kids together living their best lives in Los Angeles. Hollywood couples should look to this duo to learn how to make a relationship a success while working in Hollywood. You can watch Prinze Jr. return to his rom-com roots in Christmas with You on your Netflix subscription. 

Ever since the first look of Brendan Fraser’s appearance came out for his new movie The Whale, critics and audiences believe we already have our winner for this year’s Academy Award for Best Actor. This talented actor will make his comeback playing a 600-pound man who attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter. Freddie Prinze Jr. has expressed how watching Frasier’s heartbreaking performance has influenced his life going forward.

Freddie Prinze Jr. has been married to fellow actress Sarah Michelle Gellar who also saw The Whale and rendered her “utterly speechless” watching her former co-star. While interviewing Brendan Fraser for Interview Magazine, he told The Mummy actor about how his award-winning performance really resonated with him as both a father of two children and being a son.

During this interview, Brendan Fraser spoke about how he did research into his character by attending meetings at the Obesity Action Coalition, where members are either families and people who live with someone who is obese or who are obese themselves. The School Ties actor said that what each person had in common who told their story was that they had someone in their childhood who was cruel to them which influenced the rest of their life. That person was often a father. 

Freddie Prinze Jr. was touched by Fraser’s performance because of the views he had of his own father, who died of an accidental gunshot when he was less than a year old. He spoke about the level of anger that he still had for his father and the choices he made, but still has a genuine love for his father and no longer blames him for anything. Emotions poured through the Scooby Doo actor seeing the honest and complicated relationship between the character of Charlie and his estranged daughter (played by Sadie Sink). To be able to see the daughter scream at her father for not being around was exactly what Prinze Jr. said he would do at a plague on a wall in Forest Lawn cemetery that he'd visit once a month. But after watching The Whale, the 46-year-old actor “just sat [at the cemetery] and had the biggest, stupidest smile on my face.” This must mean that The Whale truly does accomplish its underlying message of how emotionally complex some relationships can be when life delivers us a harsh reality.

Brendan Fraser’s performance as Charlie in the A24 movie has received nothing but praise. The movie hasn’t even hit theaters yet and he already has a major award as the recipient of the Toronto International Film Festival's TIFF Tribute Award. He also received a six-minute standing ovation at The Whale’s Venice Film Festival premiere that left him filled with smiles and tears through each bow he gave. Critics' thoughts on Fraser’s performance had them saying he did a brilliant job giving audiences a touching performance with the use of prosthesis and a bodysuit not taking anything away from his acting. 

The 53-year-old actor’s reaction to his acclaim has made him feel emotional and grateful that his work on The Whale was making an impact. Freddie Prinze Jr. is just one out of the masses who will be touched by this Oscar potential movie by the time the end credits roll. Prepare to be moved by Brendan Fraser’s performance when you watch the upcoming movie The Whale hit theaters on December 9th.

Freddie Prinze Jr. spent most of his career playing the traditional All-American boy (or man) next door. Those roles appeared to subvert a key part of Prinze Jr.’s background – his Latino heritage. Despite his cultural background, the I Know What You Did Last Summer star rarely ever got the chance to tap into that side of himself. The Netflix Christmas movie Christmas with You marked the first time his and his character’s backgrounds matched from the beginning. He plays single dad and teacher Miguel in the holiday film. After the movie dropped, FPJ spoke about not getting many opportunities to represent his Latino heritage onscreen.

Playing roles like Scooby-Doo’s Fred Jones and She’s All That’s Zack Siler didn’t tap into Prinze Jr.’s Latino background. He’s only played Latinos in two prior roles, including the Punky Brewster revival, before the Christmas film premiered, which Netflix subscribers can check out. Despite this disadvantage in his career, FPJ got props from the Latino community for playing against stereotypes. While his culture was proud of him, the IKWYDLS star felt Hollywood questioned his background before scoring the Netflix movie. In his words:

While viewers loved him in 1990s teen classics like She’s All That and Summer Catch, Prinze Jr. felt cheated out of portraying characters who showed his culture in a positive light. Hollywood basically told the actor he wasn’t Latino enough to play those roles. He didn’t look or sound the part, so directors couldn’t see him playing into his heritage. They only saw him as Freddie, Zack or Ray Bronson, i.e. more traditional white roles instead. So playing a single Latino dad in a Netflix movie was a win for him.

FPJ felt he had to fight throughout his career to push for his Latino heritage to be front and center, not an afterthought. While he faced pushback from the film industry, irony came into play as his heritage wouldn’t be a factor until he was cast in a role. The Scooby-Doo star said this to Yahoo! about projects including his heritage as a tick on the diversity checklist:

Compared to previous stunt casting, the voice actor felt playing Miguel in Christmas with You was more genuine as the cultural hallmarks and traditions were already in place. They didn’t get added after he was cast as the role was written with him in mind. That appears to be why the Christmas movie is his first major live-action movie  appearance in years. He has hinted at returning to the genre that made him famous – horror, so maybe fans will get to see more of FPJ where he taps into his Latino heritage.

You can catch Freddie Prinze Jr. in another live-action appearance with his cameo in the positively-received Clerk III, which is currently available through an Amazon Prime Video subscription. While you’re there, check out his classic films like She’s All That and I Know What You Did Last Summer on the streamer. Check out what other Christmas movies are premiering this holiday season.

When it comes to relationships, these celebrity couples met on the sets of some of their most famous movies. From romantic films such as The Notebook to action movies like Daredevil, through the power of film, many of these couples were brought together. Here are 25 couples who met on the set of a movie but ended up dating in real life. 

Ryan Gosling And Rachel McAdams (The Notebook)

While you may know The Notebook as one of the best romance films out there, the two leading stars actually met on the set of the film, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. In an interview with GQ in 2007, Gosling confirmed he was thankful for the movie, as he met her through it despite the fact that their relationship ended.

While they did eventually break up in 2007, no one can quite forget this romance, both on and off screen.  

Emma Stone And Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spider-Man Series)

When Andrew Garfield was Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man series, he and his on-screen Gwen Stacy, played by Emma Stone, ended up dating for four years after meeting on the set of the first movie. While they split back in 2015, Garfield recently said that he’s still her biggest fan during an interview with Vanity Fair’s “Little Gold Men” podcast:

Angelina Jolie And Brad Pitt (Mr. And Mrs. Smith) 

On the set of the spy-movie, Mr. and Mrs. Smith (which is getting a reboot), Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt met. In an interview with Vogue (via People) in 2006, Jolie confirmed that they developed feelings for each other while filming, but didn’t start thinking of getting together instantly. 

Jolie and Pitt married in 2014, but later filed for divorce.  

Robert Pattinson And Kristen Stewart (The Twilight Series)

The Twilight series was a huge hit for Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, who played Edward and Bella in the adaptation of the popular vampire series, and they began dating after the first Twilight film released in 2008, according to an interview Stewart did with The New Yorker. They did eventually break up. 

Freida Pinto And Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire)

The 2011 Academy Award-winning film, Slumdog Millionaire, brought together its two stars, Freida Pinto and Dev Patel, after they starred in the film together. In an interview with The Guardian in 2015, Patel talked about his past relationship with Pinto, and how close they were during their time together. 

The pair split in 2014. 

Michelle Williams And Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain)

While filming Brokeback Mountain, co-stars Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger starred as husband and wife, and that love ended up coming off screen when the two began to date. In an interview with GQ in 2012, Williams talked about meeting Ledger for the first time, and how she felt she was always meant to meet him.

The two had a child together, but later separated.

Blake Lively And Ryan Reynolds (The Green Lantern)

These two are couples goals. Ever since Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively met on the set of The Green Lantern in 2010, these two have been inseparable and eventually ended up getting married. In an interview with Harper's Bazaar in 2021, Reynolds admits they were seeing different people at the time, but their friendship slowly turned into a relationship. 

They’ve been married for several years now, and have four children. 

Eva Mendes And Ryan Gosling (The Place Beyond The Pines)

In The Place Beyond the Pines, the stars of the film, Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling ended up getting together. Rumors of them being together popped up originally when they were spotted going on a date to Disneyland (via Us Weekly) in 2011, and now more than a decade later, they’re still together and have two daughters. 

Gosling, in an interview with Harper's Bazaar in 2016, gushed about his family. 

Elizabeth Taylor And Richard Burton (Cleopatra)

Famed legendary actors Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton had a whirlwind romance after filming Cleopatra, which released in 1963. Their love was highly publicized and even turned into a limited series, called Liz & Dick. It spanned thirteen years, eleven films together, as well as two marriages and two divorces, according to Vogue. 

Natalie Portman And Benjamin Millepied (Black Swan)

While filming her Academy Award-winning movie, Black Swan, Natalie Portman met Benjamin Millepied, who is a famous choreographer and co-starred with her. Two began dating and married not that long after in 2012. 

In an interview with People, Natalie gushed about her husband and how much she loved working with him again on a new film, called Vox Lux in 2018.

Matthew Broderick And Jennifer Grey (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off)

While they may have played siblings in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Matthew Broderick and Jennifer Grey were actually entangled in a relationship during their time on set. Jennifer Grey spoke about her relationship with the actor in her memoir, Out of the Corner, and how it was hard to keep it a secret from everyone else. 

Once filming ended, according to the memoir, they separated temporarily before getting back together, and dated in 1988. They were also briefly engaged but called it off not that long after. 

Johnny Depp And Winona Ryder (Edward Scissorhands)

While they originally met in the lobby of a New York theater in 1989, according to Rolling Stone (via Cheat Sheet), Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder’s relationship only grew more after co-starring in Edward Scissorhands in 1990, so much so that Depp proposed to Ryder only five months into dating. 

However, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 1993, Depp confirmed they had split up due to the privacy the media wouldn’t let them have. 

Claire Danes And Hugh Dancy (Evening)

Both Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy met on the set of Evening, according to an interview Dancy did with London Evening Standard in 2013, saying that marriage to the star, as well as fatherhood, is treating him “very well.”

Goldie Hawn And Kurt Russell (The One And Only, Genuine, Original Family Band)

This long-lasting partnership started way back when in 1966. Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell originally met on the set of The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, but it wasn’t until Swing Shift in 1984 that they began dating. In an interview with People, Hawn admits that the two don’t see a point in marriage.  

The pair have been together for 40 years, and recently starred in The Christmas Chronicles 2 together in 2020.  

Taylor Swift And Taylor Lautner (Valentine’s Day)

The ultimate Taylor-ship, actor Taylor Lautner and singer Taylor Swift worked together on the romantic comedy Valentine's Day and were seen out together at sports games (via People). The two reportedly dated for a couple of months before breaking up in December of the same year. 

Channing Tatum And Jenna Dewan (Step Up)

One of Channing Tatum’s best movies led to him meeting Jenna Dewan, his co-star and later wife on the set of Step-Up, as confirmed by an interview Tatum did with Elle in 2013. Tatum admitted that he almost didn’t ask Dewan out because he had just gotten out of a relationship. 

While they share a daughter, the two divorced in 2019.  

Daniel Craig And Rachel Weisz (Dream House)

While the two had actually first met at university together, both Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz were brought back together while filming Dream House. Weisz spoke with The Evening Standard in 2018 on her relationship, and how she never thought she would get married, until she started dating Craig. 

Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck (Gigli) 

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are back together, but their first run at a relationship was while filming Gigli, where the two became close friends, and later began to date after Lopez divorced from Chris Judd in 2003.

Vanessa Hudgens And Zac Efron (High School Musical Series)

The High School Musical series was a huge hit for the Disney Channel, and onscreen love interests, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, turned that love into a long relationship offscreen, according to Hudgens during an interview on The Hollywood Reporter’s “Awards Chatter” podcast (via People) in 2019.

The two were together for five years before breaking up. 

Jennifer Garner And Ben Affleck (Daredevil)

Both Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck first met while filming Pearl Harbor, but started to date after being co-stars in Daredevil, according to an interview with Playboy Magazine in 2017, saying that this set was where they fell in love.

They later married in 2005 and then divorced in 2018. 

Liam Hemsworth And Miley Cyrus (The Last Song)

While filming The Last Song together, Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus became very close, according to Seventeen (via MTV News) where Cyrus said he was her “best friend.” Their relationship was later confirmed after they walked the red carpet together. They were together for years, marrying, before divorcing in 2020. 

Tom Cruise And Nicole Kidman (Days Of Thunder)

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman met at her audition for Days of Thunder, according to an interview she did with Harper’s Bazaar in 2021. The two stars co-starred, fell in love, married in 1990, and then divorced in 2001. 

Zendaya And Tom Holland (Spider-Man Series)

Tom Holland and Zendaya met while filming Spider-Man: Homecoming together, but it wasn’t until closer to the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021 that speculation about a romantic relationship between the two seemed to be confirmed. 

Since then, the two have been very public about their relationship, especially when Tom Holland shared a post on Instagram on her birthday, saying that Zendaya was “his MJ.”

Sarah Michelle Gellar And Freddie Prinze Jr. (I Know What You Did Last Summer)

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. met originally on the set of I Know What You Did Last Summer, but didn’t begin to date until 2000, according to an interview Gellar did with People in 2002, saying they weren’t even originally supposed to go on a date - turned into one. 

They have been together for twenty years and have two children. 

Penelope Cruz And Javier Bardem (Jamón Jamón)

The two actually met for the first time as co-stars while filming Jamón Jamón, they wouldn’t get together until they reunited again filming Vicky Cristina Barcelona, a Woody Allen film, according to an interview Javier Bardem did with GQ in 2017, and started dating after filming was done. 

The two have been married since 2010, and have two children. 

There are so many celebrity couples out there - some that have stood the test of time and others that have not. And I’m sure over time, only more and more will start to pop up with even crazier romances. 

For a new generation, Freddie Prinze Jr. may be Punky Brewster’s ex on the now-canceled reboot, Buffy’s husband or the guy who talks about wrestling. But for Millennials and Gen Xers, he will always be Ray Bronson from I Know What You Did Last Summer and its sequel. Of course, the actor has moved on to star in multiple films and television shows. Prinze hasn’t participated in the horror genre since the 1998 sequel. But a long-awaited return might be on the horizon as the She’s All That star teased a new possible horror film.

In the 1990s, I Know What You Did Last Summer put the Summer Catch star on the map along with She’s All That. Prinze moved away from horror into other genres like romantic comedies and sci-fi epics. He was horror adjacent as Fred Jones in the Scooby-Doo movies, but he’s never fully returned to the genre. It appeared now the podcaster might be ready to hop back into the genre. The Down to You star proclaimed his potential return on Twitter.

The I Still Know What You Did Last Summer star appeared to be on the search for a horror film since the first film. IKWYDLS was a high benchmark for Prinze as he hasn’t popped up in the genre in three decades. Of course, making that statement led to some excitement from IKWYDLS fans. One follower asked the most obvious question – will the new project be a reboot of the beloved film? Unfortunately, Freddie Prinze Jr. squashed those dreams with a simple reply.

Of course, his response opened the floodgates as followers began pitching their ideas for his possible return to horror. The pitches ranged from possible reboots of other horror classics to outrageous original ideas. Sending out that tweet proved there is a thirst for more Freddie Prinze Jr. to appear in the genre.

The IKWYDLS legacy left an impression on a whole generation. The film along with the original Scream made teen slasher films a go-to genre for up-and-coming stars. It took Jennifer Love Hewitt and FPJ’s wife Sarah Michelle Gellar from beloved TV stars to legitimate film stars. The cult classic turned Prinze and Ryan Phillipe teen heartthrobs in the late 1990s and early 2000s. IKWYDLS became a box office hit, grossing $126 million. Its success spawned two sequels with a reboot series premiering in 2021.

Given his horror pedigree, Freddie Prinze Jr.’s return seems very anticipated. If the unknown project becomes a reality, it will mark his first live-action film since 2008’s Jack and Jill vs. the World. Of course, fans have heard his voice work in recent years from multiple Star Wars projects. So, it’s time for the horror OG to make his triumphant return.

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. have been one of Hollywood’s most beloved couples for decades. From the 1990s classic I Know What You Did Last Summer to the Scooby-Doo movies, audiences chronicled their relationship over the years. Fans have even gotten peeks into their decades-long marriage despite Gellar and Prinze Jr. maintaining some sense of privacy. After so many years together, there’s bound to be some confusion over special moments and anniversaries as days start to blur together. This culminated in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum forgetting her wedding anniversary with the Punky Brewster star. After being reminded by multiple outlets, Gellar decided to dedicate a sweet social media post to Prinze Jr.

The Masters of the Universe: Revelation star took to her Instagram to shout out her husband on their special day. According to Sarah Michelle Gellar, she believed her anniversary with Freddie Prinze Jr. was a day later until her circle of mom friends corrected her. The Buffy star recognized her error by sending a loving message to her husband of 19 years.

As seen in Sarah Michelle Gellar’s post, married couples can get confused over special days especially after being together for so many years. As a couple, Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. have shown their love and devotion on many occasions. But of course, it took her friends seeing Good Morning America and Us Weekly to think about her anniversary. At least, she took the time to shout out her other half on their special day. To see how the Buffy star marked this special day, check out her Instagram post below:

Of course, Freddie Prinze Jr. couldn’t leave his beloved wife to take all the blame. He decided to leave a comment on Sarah Michelle Gellar’s anniversary post. The Star War Rebels star gave his hilarious take on the unexpected faux pas by replying:

Freddie Prinze Jr. set the example of what it is like to be a devoted husband to his wife. He decided to stick by her no matter what the world was saying. Plus, it’s their anniversary if they want to celebrate it a day later, that’s up to them. This moment only led to followers getting to share in Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar’s wedding anniversary. Hopefully, the Hollywood couple will let fans congratulate them again on their big day when they hit a major milestone next year.

This weekend, audiences can see a retelling of a familiar tale with Netflix's He's All That, a modernized remake of 1999's well-liked teen rom-com, She's All That. Though the movie received mixed reviews from critics, it earned a wide audience, becoming one of the most popular teen flicks of the '90s, thanks to the endearing chemistry shared between Freddie Prinze Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook. In a cast that includes several famous faces, including Gabrielle Union, Kieran Culkin, Anna Paquin, and the late Paul Walker, it's easy to wonder what the A-list ensemble has been up to for the past 20-plus years. That's where we can help! Here's what the She's All That cast is doing right now.

Freddie Prinze Jr. (Zachary “Zack” Siler)

As Zachary "Zack" Siler, the high school hotshot who boasts that he can turn any random girl into the Prom Queen, Freddie Prinze Jr. played a handsome hunk in 1999's She's All That. He also starred in I Know What You Did Last Summer, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, and Summer Catch. Additionally, Prinze Jr. played Fred Jones in Scooby-Doo and Scooby-Doo: Monsters Unleashed. The actor's other credits include The House of Yes, Down to You, Boys and Girls, Head Over Heels, and Brooklyn Rules.

Additionally, on TV, Freddie Prinze Jr. starred in or played recurring roles in 24, Boston Legal, and Freddie, where he also served as a producer and creator. Outside of acting, Prinze Jr. hosted USA Network's First Impressions and he was a host and creative consultant on WWE Raw. Furthermore, Prinze Jr. lent his voice to Disney XD's Star Wars Rebels. Earlier this year, the television actor starred in Peacock's Punky Brewster, which was canceled. Prinze Jr. was also recently heard in Disney+'s Star Wars: The Bad Batch.

Rachael Leigh Cook (Laney Boggs)

In the role of Laney Boggs, a nerdy, bespectacled art student who becomes the subject of two boys' dare to turn a random girl into the Prom Queen, Rachael Leigh Cook was the star of She's All That. She's also known for playing the titular Josie McCoy in Josie and the Pussycats. Additionally, Cook starred in The Baby-Sitters Club. Her other film credits include The House of Yes, Tom and Huck, Blow Dry, and Nancy Drew. Also, Cook can be seen in Get Carter, Carpool, Living Out Loud, Texas Rangers, 11:14, Tangled, A Midsummer's Nights' Dream, and several direct-to-video films. Moreover, the actress is heard in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children and Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker.

Additionally, on TV, Rachael Leigh Cook starred in TNT"s Perception. She also played recurring roles in Dawson's Creek, Las Vegas, and Psych. Furthermore, Cook starred in Hallmark's Frozen in Love and Autumn in the Vineyard. Last year, she headlined Love, Guaranteed and Cross Country Christmas. This year, Cook could be seen in Film Fest. Also, most recently, the film actress was given a sizable supporting role in He's All That.

Matthew Lillard (Brock Hudson)

Playing the part of Brock Hudson, a crude, lewd reality TV star who starts dating Zack's ex, Matthew Lillard is a wild-and-out guy in 1999's She's All That. Most notably, Lillard played Shaggy Rogers in Scooby-Doo and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. He has also voiced the character in several animated films, notably after Casey Kasem retired from the part. His other film credits include Scream, SLC Punk!, Summer Catch, Without a Paddle, The Descendants, Trouble with the Curve, The Groomsmen, and Looney Tunes: Back in Action. Moreover, Lillard acted in and directed Fat Kid Rules the World.

Additionally, on television, Matthew Lillard was praised for his performance as William Hastings in Showtime's Twin Peaks: The Return. He can also be seen in Bosch, Halt and Catch Fire, and The Bridge. Furthermore, Lillard is heard in Robot Chicken, Beware the Batman, and All Hail King Julien. Most recently, he appeared on NBC's Good Girls, and he played Principal Bosch in Netflix's He's All That. Next, Lillard will star in One Heart.

Jodi Lyn O’Keefe (Taylor Vaughan)

As Taylor Vaughan, Zackary's deeply narcissistic ex-girlfriend, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe played a cold-hearted character in She's All That. Away from this popular film, the actress is also recognized from Halloween H20: 20 Years Later. O'Keefe's other film credits include The Crow: Salvation, Whatever It Takes, Frozen Ground, Devil in the Flesh 2, Soul Fire Rising, Venice Underground, The Scare Hole, Merry Ex-Mas, and 2018's Edge of Fear.

Additionally, on TV, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe gained prominence as Cassidy in CBS's Nash Bridges. She's also known for her starring roles in Prison Break, Hit the Floor, and The Vampire Diaries. Furthermore, O'Keefe had recurring roles in Boston Legal, Another World, Two and a Half Men, and The Evidence. She was last seen on Legacies in 2018.

Kevin Pollak (Wayne Boggs)

In the role of Wayne Boggs, Laney's unsophisticated father, Kevin Pollak is a real schlub in 1999's She's All That. He has appeared in several notable films throughout his career, including A Few Good Men, Grumpy Old Men, Grumpier Old Men, The Usual Suspects, Casino, Wayne's World 2, That Thing You Do!, The Whole Nine Yards, The Wedding Planner, and L.A. Story. Additionally, on TV, Pollak plays Moishe Maisel in Amazon Prime's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. He also provided recurring roles in Mom, Better Things, Shark, Coming of Age, Morton & Hayes, The Drew Carey Show, and Billions.

Furthermore, Kevin Pollak is a renowned impressionist and he hosted the podcast Kevin Pollak's Chat Show for over a decade. He's also the director of 2015's Misery Loves Comedy and 2016's The Late Bloomer. Next, Pollak will appear in FX's American Crime Story: Impeachment. He was also recently in Notorious Nick. Additionally, Pollak will be seen in 4 Kings and Hypnotized and heard in Injustice: Gods Among Us!: The Movie.

Usher (Campus DJ)

Playing the part of Campus DJ, the life of the party, Usher received one of his first film roles in She's All That. The actor's other credits include The Faculty, Light It Up, Killers, In the Mix, Geppetto, Texas Rangers, Scary Movie 5, Muppets Most Wanted, Hands of Stone, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, Burden, Hustlers, and Incredibles 2. Most notably, Usher is a chart-topping singer-songwriter with several best-selling CDs — including his 1994 self-titled album, My Way, 8701, Confessions, and Here I Stand.

Confessions, in particular, turned the artist into a major talent, having sold over 80 million records. Most recently, Usher appeared in Hulu's Bad Hair. As a musician, Usher collaborated with Zaytoven on 2018's A. Later this year, he'll release Confessions 2.

Kimberly “Lil' Kim” Jones (Alex Chason Sawyer)

As Alex Chason Sawyer, a member of Taylor's inner circle, Kimberly Jones, i.e. "Lil' Kim," made her feature film debut in 1999's She's All That. Her other film credits include Juwanna Man, Gang of Roses, Zoolander, Longshot, You Got Served, Those Who Walk in Darkness, and Superhero Movie. Most notably, Lil' Kim is a best-selling rapper with several chart-topping albums to her name, including Hard Core, The Notorious K.I.M., La Bella Mafia, and The Naked Truth. Following an extended absence, the musician released her long-awaited fifth album, 9, in 2019. Furthermore, Lil' Kim starred in reality TV shows like BET's Lil' Kim: Countdown to Lockdown and VH1's Girls Cruise. She was also a contestant on Dancing with the Stars and made appearances on Moesha, American Dreams, The Game, and DAG. Additionally, Lil' Kim is known for her striking, adventurous, and often fabulous style, and she has been considered a fashion icon.

Anna Paquin (Mackenzie “Mac” Siler)

In the role of Mackenzie "Mac" Siler, Zackary's sister who gives Laney her big makeover, Anna Paquin had a notable supporting part in She's All That. Most notably, Paquin won an Oscar for her supporting turn in The Piano, her acting debut. She's also known for playing Rogue in the X-Men movies. Additionally, Paquin starred in Fly Away Home, Margaret, A Walk on the Moon, The Parting Glass, and Tell It to the Bees. She's also seen in Almost Famous, Finding Forrester, 25th Hour, The Squid and the Whale, Trick 'R Treat, and The Irishman. Furthermore, Paquin can be heard in The Good Dinosaur.

Furthermore, on TV, Anna Paquin won a Golden Globe for her lead role in HBO's True Blood. She was also Emmy nominated for HBO's Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and starred in Amazon's Flack. Most recently, Paquin was seen in the streamer's Modern Love. Next, she's slated to appear in American Underdog, and she's filming True Spirit.

Kieran Culkin (Simon Boggs)

Playing the part of Simon Boggs, Laney's little brother, Kieran Culkin is a real stinker in 1999's She's All That. Most notably, Culkin was Emmy-nominated for his standout performance as Roman Roy in HBO's Succession. Previously, the television actor played Rye Gerhardt to wide acclaim in FX's Fargo Season 2. Additionally, Culkin led NBC's short-lived Go Fish, and he appeared in NBC's The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns.

Furthermore, outside of television, Kieran Culkin played Jason "Igby" Slocumb, Jr. in Igby Goes Down. He's also known for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, the Home Alone films, and the Father of the Bride movies. His other film credits include It Runs in the Family, The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, Lymelife, Wiener-Dog, Movie 43, Margaret, The Cider House Rules, and The Mighty. Recently, Culkin reprised his role as Matty Banks in Father of the Bride, Part 3(ish). Most recently, the actor was seen in HBO Max's No Sudden Move. Next, Culkin will play Roman Roy in Succession Season 3.

Gabrielle Union (Katarina “Katie” Darlingson)

As Katarina "Katie" Darlingson, one of Taylor's best friends, Gabrielle Union made her feature film debut in She's All That. Only one year later, the actress found her breakout role in 2000's Bring It On. Union also starred in Deliver Us From Eva, The Brothers, Daddy's Little Girls, Bad Boys II, Cradle 2 the Grave, Top Five, Cadillac Records, City of Angels, Almost Christmas, Sleepless, Breaking In, and the Think Like A Man movies. Her other notable film credits include Love & Basketball, 10 Things I Hate About You, Two Can Play That Game, Breakin' All The Rules, Running with Scissors, and Girls Trip.

Additionally, on TV, Gabrielle Union played the title role in BET's Being Mary Jane. She also starred in Spectrum's L.A.'s Finest, which was canceled this past October. Union previously had recurring roles in FlashForward, 7th Heaven, and Night Stalker. Next, she'll star in Disney+'s Cheaper by the Dozen, The Perfect Find, and The Inspection.

Paul Walker (Dean Sampson Jr.)

In the role of Dean Sampson Jr., Zackary's friend who challenges him to the dare, Paul Walker received one of his biggest parts in She's All That. Most notably, following his supporting turn in this high school rom-com, Walker played Brian O'Conner in several Fast & Furious movies. He also starred in Joy Ride, Running Scared, Into the Blue, Eight Below, Meet the Deedles, The Death and Life of Bobby Z, The Lazarus Project, Takers, and The Skulls. Additionally, away from the big screen, Walker could be seen in Throb, The Young and the Restless, and Who's the Boss? Quite tragically, in late 2013, the movie star was involved in a fatal car crash. He was only 40. Walker posthumously starred in Brick Mansions, Hours (which he also executive produced), and Furious 7.

She's All That is available to rent on Amazon.

I Know What You Did Last Summer is the kind of movie that you really needed to experience as a teenager to truly appreciate. It wasn’t smart like Scream or scary like Final Destination, but it was fun. Starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe and many others, most of the I Know What You Did Last Summer cast went on to do some major other projects following this popular film about four friends who are haunted by a hook-handed killer after their role in a fatal car accident.

The film was ultimately very successful and would spawn the sequels, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, which brought in Brandy and Mekhi Phifer, and I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer, which went straight to DVD. Neither film captured the magic of the first movie, but as I said up top, I guess you just had to be there to really experience why it was so popular. So, what’s the cast of the ‘90s slasher flick doing today? Well, quite a lot, actually, and you’re about to find out.

Jennifer Love Hewitt (Julie James)

The Ghost Whisperer herself and official face of the first two movies (“What are you waiting for!?”), Jennifer Love Hewitt mostly stopped acting in films back in 2012, with her last film role being Alison Marks in the independent comedy film, Jewtopia, but she’s managed to stay relevant in the realm of television. Her first big break in the TV realm was on the hit Fox TV show Party of Five, which she starred in before and after her role in I Know What You Did Last Summer.

She would then go on to do Ghost Whisperer from 2005-2010, and a spate of other shows, with main roles on The Client List and Criminal Minds where she played the undercover agent, Kate Callahan. Her most recent role is in the Ryan Murphy procedural, 9-1-1, where she was introduced in Season 2 as 911 operator, Maddie Buckley Kendall and still has a role on the show. But that’s not all, as she also did a bit of writing since her role in the popular slasher film. Jennifer Love-Hewitt had a five issue comic book series called Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Music Box back in 2009-2010, which she helped come up with the ideas for, and she also wrote the book, The Day I Shot Cupid. Not only that, but she coined the term, “vajazzling,” which is pubic decoration with gems and stones. Movie star, TV star, author, and coiner of words. What can’t this woman do?

Sarah Michelle Gellar (Helen Shivers)

Sarah Michelle Gellar will probably always most be known for her starring role in  Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but she’s been acting since 1983 in the TV film, An Invasion of Privacy. Since then, she’s done everything from movies, TV shows, and even music videos, such as Stone Temple Pilot’s “Sour Girl”, appearing as an authentic-looking goth girl.

Film-wise, Sarah Michelle Gellar jumped from I Know What You Did Last Summer to Scream 2 (in the same year!), went on to do Cruel Intentions, Scooby-Doo 1 and 2 as Daphne, and also terrified the living daylights out of me in The Grudge 1 and 2. Her last film was 2013’s The Illusionauts. TV-wise, besides Buffy, and appearances in its spin-off, Angel, she has since had a main role on 2013’s The Crazy Ones, which co-starred Robin Williams, and has also lent her voice talents to animation, like her 5-episode run as Seventh Sister on 2015’s Star Wars Rebels. She will next be heard in the upcoming animated series, Masters of the Universe Revelation as Teela.

Ryan Phillippe (Barry Cox)

Like a lot of actors, Ryan Phillippe got his first big break on a soap opera, his being One Life to Live for a 13-episode run back in 1992-1993. He would go on to do a number of TV shows and movies (most notably, the excellent Crimson Tide) before he would land his role as Barry Cox in I Know What You Did Last Summer. Since 1997, he’s done a number of TV shows and movies. And like Sarah Michelle Gellar, he also did some music videos, most notably as a blink and you’ll miss it cameo as the TV host in Outkast’s phenomenal video, “Hey Ya!”

On television, Ryan Phillippe kept himself busy in the aughts in shows like 2015’s Secrets and Lies, 2016’s Shooter, and most recently, in 2020’s Big Sky as Cody Hoyt. Film-wise, Phillippe played roles in Gosford Park, Crash, Flags of Our Fathers, and most recently 2020’s Brothers by Blood. His next films will be the true-crime drama film, American Murderer, and the comedy, Lady of the Manor, both of which are still upcoming.

Freddie Prinze Jr. (Ray Bronson)

Freddie Prinze Jr., who married his I Know What You Did Last Summer co-star, Sarah Michelle Gellar, has kept super busy in TV and film, and even in pro-wrestling. On the film end, he was one of the only survivors who made it to I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, but he was also in Wing Commander, both Scooby Doo movies, again with his wife, as Fred Jones, and most recently as a voice cameo in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as Kanan Jarrus.

On the TV end, he’s been on everything from Frasier to Friends, from Boston Legal to WWE Raw. My favorite Freddie Prinze Jr. role was as Cole Ortiz on 24 in Season 8, but he’s also had roles in Psyche, Bones, and Punky Brewster as well. Also, the force is strong with this one, since he not only had a voice cameo in the The Rise of Skywalker, but also the Star Wars shows, Rebels, and most recently, in 2021’s Star Wars: The Bad Batch as the character Caleb Dume on the episode “Aftermath”. Cool!

Bridgette Wilson (Elsa Shivers)

Yes, Bridgette Wilson played Elsa Shivers in I Know What You Did Last Summer, but to me, she will always be Sonya Blade from 1995’s Mortal Kombat. But since those two films, she did a few TV episodes, most notably on the shows Frasier, CSI: Miami, and 2008’s Carpoolers.

On the film end, she went on to have roles in Love Stinks, House on Haunted Hill, and Shopgirl. Her last film was 2008’s Phantom Punch, though she's credited for voicing the role of Sonya Blade in the video game Mortal Kombat 11.

Anne Heche (Melissa “Missy” Egan)

Anne Heche has had a long and rich career as an actor, but she’s also done some directing and even wrote the book Call Me Crazy: A Memoir, back in 2001. Like Ryan Phillippe, she got her start on a soap opera, hers being Another World. She would then go on to do several shows following her role in I Know What You Did Last Summer, such as Ally McBeal, Nip/Tuck, Hung, and Dancing With the Stars as a dancer back in Season 29. But my personal favorite role of hers is her voice acting on The Legend of Korra as Toph’s daughter, Suyin Beifong.

On the movie end, she did a number of films, like John Q, The Other Guys, and Catfight. Her most recent role in a film was 2020’s The Vanished, and her most recent in a TV show was 2021’s legal drama, All Rise. She had a two-episode run on the show. We’ll keep you posted on whatever film or TV project she does next.

Johnny Galecki (Max Neurick)

For some, Johnny Galecki will always just be Dr. Leonard Hofstadter from the immensely popular The Big Bang Theory, which will likely live on in syndication forever. But for me, he will always be Darlene’s boyfriend, David Healy, from Roseanne. Well, outside of those two shows, he’s done a number of projects in both TV and film. On the film side of things, he was in Vanilla Sky, Hancock, Rings, and 2019’s A Dog’s Journey, which was currently his last film role.

On the TV end, he was of course on The Big Bang Theory, but also My Name Is Earl, Hope & Faith, and most recently again reprising his role as David Healy on The Conners. He looks to have taken a break from acting for the time being, so we’ll have to wait and see what's ahead for the actor.

Stuart Greer (Officer)

Stuart Greer began his acting career in off-Broadway plays, but would eventually land his first film gig in I Know What You Did Last Summer. From there, some of his most notable film performances were Runaway Jury, The Mechanic, and his last film role being 2015’s American Ultra.

On the TV side, he was on the Sundance original series RETIFY, the AMC show, TURN: Washington’s Spies, and also as the character, Roman, on a couple of episodes of The Walking Dead. He had a stroke in 2016 and has retired from acting.

Muse Watson (Ben Willis/The Fisherman)

And lastly, the dude who actually knows what you did last summer, it’s Muse Watson! He played the fisherman in the movie. Muse Watson has had a prolific career in both films and television. On the TV end, he’s been in everything from JAG, to Prison Break, to The Mentalist, to even Ghost Whisperer for one episode. His most recent TV role was 2014’s Justified, and he can next be found in the TV miniseries, Diary of a Lunatic, as The Creator.

On the film side, he is also one of the few characters to return in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, but his role as The Fisherman was probably the biggest role in his filmography, as he mostly did much smaller films like American Outlaws. His most recent film was 2014’s Suburban Gothic, where he played a character named Ambrose.

So, in the end, was I Know What You Did Last Summer one of the greatest horror movies of all time? No, not really. But it didn't have to be, because as I said up top. It was fun. But if you do want to know about some of the best horror movies, or upcoming horror movies, then you can find that here as we love our horror flicks at this website. And if you're not into horror flicks and just want to know about 2021 movies or even 2022 movies, you can find that here, too! So, what are you waiting for? Make sure to stop by often!

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Warning: SPOILERS for the Star Wars: The Bad Batch premiere are ahead!

We already knew that Star Wars: The Bad Batch would feature some familiar faces from the Star Wars universe, as evidenced by Grand Moff Tarkin and The Mandalorian’s Fennec Shand being featured in the trailers. However, the first episode of the new animated series that just hit Disney+ gave Star Wars Rebels fans quite the treat, as a young version of Caleb Dume, a.k.a. Kanan Jarrus, appeared, with Freddie Prinze Jr. reprising the role. This will surely rank high on the list of surprise Star Wars appearances, but how, and why, did this cameo come to be?

During my recent interview with Star Wars: The Bad Batch producers Jennifer Corbett and Brad Rau, the latter of whom is also the series’ head writer, I asked about the thought process behind including Caleb Dume in the series’ first episode. Here’s what Corbett had to say:

Caleb Dume and his master, Depa Billaba, crossed paths with Clone Force 99 in the final minutes of the Clone Wars on the planet Kaller, with the group of elite clone troopers popping in at just the knick of time to bail them out of a sticky situation with the droid army. Unfortunately, this coincided with Order 66, resulting in Depa being gunned down and the understandably terrified Caleb fleeing. Because of their genetic abnormalities, most of Clone Force 99 wasn’t affected by the programming that forced the “regular” clones to turn on their Jedi commanders, but Crosshair, the group’s sniper, could still that pull, leading to him trying to kill Caleb.

While Hunter tried his best to calm down Caleb Dume and figure out what was going on, Crosshair’s actions undid any goodwill the Bad Batch’s leader tried to pass on. So Hunter did the next best thing: he allowed Caleb to escape custody and reported the young Jedi as having died, and that brief dynamic he had with Kanan will now pass on to Omega, the young clone he and the rest of the Batch (excluding Crosshair) befriend on Kamino. This marked our second time seeing Caleb in Star Wars animation, as he previously cameoed in hologram form during The Clone Wars Season 7. His past was also explored in the 12-issue Kanan comic book series.

Of course, Star Wars Rebels fans know where Caleb Dume will go from here. Eventually he renamed himself Kanan Jarrus and kept his Jedi past secret from those he met. But then the day came that he met Hera Syndulla and her droid Chopper, and from there, he started taking the fight to the Empire, with Zeb, Sabine Wren, and Ezra Bridger later joining The Ghost crew. I could spend an entire article talking about everything Kanan went through in Rebels, but I’ll spare you that and instead support those of you who decide to delve back into that series, or perhaps check it out for the first time, after watching The Bad Batch premiere.

With approximately 14 years passing between the beginning of Star Wars: The Bad Batch and the beginning of Star Wars Rebels, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Caleb again in the former series should it run long enough. Whether that happens or not, there’s more than enough to keep Star Wars fans entertained in The Bad Batch, which follows exactly a year after The Clone Wars series finale aired. If you made it this far and still haven’t watched the show’s inaugural episode, make sure you’re subscribed to Disney+ and feel free to stream it now.

The next episode of Star Wars: The Bad Batch hits Disney+ this Friday, May 7, and new episodes will continue to premiere on Fridays. Find out what else the franchise set in a galaxy far, far away has coming up with our upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows guide.

Freddie Prinze Jr. joined a popular franchise when he began starring in the animated Disney XD series Star Wars Rebels, as the follow-up to the popular Clone Wars TV show, to expand the stories set in Star Wars' galaxy far, far away. Prinze voiced the Jedi Kanan Jarrus on Rebels from 2014-2018. Now part of the Punky Brewster cast on Peacock, he has revealed the hilarious way he found out he was auditioning for one of the biggest franchises ever.

Freddie Prinze Jr. spoke to Collider about getting back into acting and being part of three “legacy” projects, i.e. Scooby-Doo, Star Wars and Punky Brewster. The actor looked back at when he auditioned for Star Wars Rebels. Prinze Jr. explained:

Thinking you’re auditioning for one thing and it turns out to be something else and something much bigger was the case for Freddie Prinze Jr. Nothing beats seeing someone walk into a room with a cowboy hat on to get you on board with the show. And according to Prinze Jr., that somebody with the cowboy hat was the only one that wanted him:

That audition story (including meeting executive producer Dave Filoni) is not one to forget, especially for a franchise as iconic as Star Wars! Freddie Prinze Jr. added another legacy project to his list without even knowing it at the time and it worked out for the better. In fact, his Star Wars Rebels character became one of the most iconic elements of the series, and Kanan not only appeared (albeit briefly) in the revival season of The Clone Wars on Disney+ but also had a voice cameo in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

You can find Freddie Prinze Jr.'s run as Kanan Jarrus with all four seasons of Star Wars Rebels, streaming on Disney+ now. As for his newest series, Punky Brewster is streaming on Peacock.

Sometimes reports about an actor joining a major motion picture end up being correct, and other times they’re way off the mark, so much so that the filmmakers themselves debunk said rumor. Case in point, earlier this week, James Gunn quickly shot down the claim that he was looking for a “Zac Efron type” to play Adam Warlock in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Shortly thereafter, Seth Rogen had a hilarious exchange with Gunn about the Warlock rumor, and now Josh Gad and Freddie Prinze Jr. have joined in on the fun.

While Seth Rogen joked about how he was going to submit himself for the Zac Efron-like Adam Warlock, Josh Gad feigned disappointment that he was immediately disqualified from scoring the supposedly key Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 role. As he put it:

Considering Josh Gad’s extensive Disney resume, from voicing Olaf in the Frozen movies to playing Mulch Diggums in Artemis Fowl, I wouldn’t be surprised if Marvel Studios decides to hire him for an important role someday. He’s already played around in a different corner of the Mouse House’s genre offerings by voicing The Controller in an episode of Star Wars Rebels. Alas, if Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 were indeed looking for a Zac Efron-like actor to play Adam Warlock, Gad would be out of the running.

As for Freddie Prinze Jr., whose main contribution to the Disney media empire has been voicing Kanan Jarrus in Star Wars Rebels, he pretended like he’d gone a little too far in attempting to score the Adam Warlock role after hearing the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 rumor.

Note to self: don’t undergo surgery to look like another actor until the physical characteristics for a character are 100% confirmed. All jokes aside, James Gunn explained that not only has casting for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 not begun (remember, he’s currently working on HBO Max’s Peacemaker series), but there’d be no reason to look at solely white actors if they’re just going to be painted gold anyway. Plus, if Gunn wanted a Zac Efron-type to play Adam Warlock, then he’d simply try and get Efron for the role.

Now, all this isn’t to say that Adam Warlock won’t appear in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. After all, one of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’s mid-credits scenes teased the character’s eventual debut, with Ayesha, the high priestess of the Sovereign race, began creating him as her tool to destroy the Guardians. Officially speaking though, Adam Warlock hasn’t been confirmed for the threequel yet, although fingers crossed that once production begins, it’ll be confirmed whether he’s participating or not.

Outside of James Gunn providing a few teases here and there over the years, such as saying that big things are in store for Rocket Raccoon, we really have no idea what to expect from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. That said, production is reportedly expected to begin in late 2021 so it’ll be ready for a 2023 release. But if you’re looking for a comic book movie fix from Gunn sooner than that, The Suicide Squad will be released in theaters and on HBO Max August 6.

In his lengthy career, Freddie Prinze Jr. was part of many memorable projects, from the Scooby-Doo movies to I Know What You Did Last Summer to the disturbingly amazing The House of Yes. In recent years, he took a break from live-action acting to focus on fatherhood, making limited TV appearances on top of voice work in projects such as the excellent Star Wars Rebels. That all got flipped around when Prinze joined the cast of Peacock's Punky Brewster revival alongside returning star Soleil Moon Frye, and the actor has an awesome story behind why he agreed to take it.

As seen and heard in the video above, it was more a series of interesting moments and unpredictable coincidences that led Freddie Prinze Jr. to the role of Punky Brewster's semi-slacker ex-husband Travis. It's quite the ripping yarn to hear in its entirety, as it's very much like a shaggy dog story, but one that actually involves a positive outcome, rather than something jokey or disappointing. For those who didn't or can't watch, here's how he started the tale:

Interestingly enough, Freddie Prinze Jr.'s name was apparently being considered by the Punky Brewster producers, despite his lack of intentions by way of landing big TV jobs. That possibly came by way of Beverly Hills 90210 and Masked Dancer vet Brian Austin Green, who co-starred with Prinze on the 2000s sitcom Freddie, and who was also good friends with Punky Brewster herself, Soleil Moon Frye. (Fun fact, Green will appear in Frye's home-movie documentary Kid 90, which debuts on Hulu.) But despite the advice of a good friend to dig into the script, Prinze was like nahhhh.

Of course, Freddie Prinze Jr.'s negligence didn't go unchecked for very long. He continued, saying:

So now Freddie Prinze Jr. had two of his best friends, one of whom being his wife, telling him that it was a no-brainer to try and land the role on Punky Brewster's revival. All that was left for him to do was meet Soleil Moon Frye, and the bizarre circumstances behind that first meeting were what immediately convinced him to take the gig. Here's how Prinze explained it:

How many times in life can someone say that an impromptu Back to the Future-themed proposal at Universal Studios was the reason they decided to take a big job? Definitely not the case for me, I gotta say. In fact, none of my jobs involve Back to the Future's long-lasting legacy, except for the one gig at the sports almanac. But I lost that one before I even got it, so go figure. (Womp womp.)

In the end, Brian Austin Green, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Soleil Moon Frye were the holy trinity that convinced Freddie Prinze Jr. to agree to Punky Brewster, and we can only assume the Universal Studios usher also went by three names. Maybe her middle name was "Kismet."

Grab the family and be sure to check out all 10 episodes of Punky Brewster's revival on Peacock. And if you happen to need a Dungeons & Dragons campaign written up, Prinze might just be your guy, if he's not working on Season 2.

This week, Punky Brewster is back. After 32 years away from the air, Soleil Moon Frye returns to the plucky title protagonist that made her a household name. Reunited with Cherie Johnson and joined by Freddie Prinze Jr., Lauren Lindsay Donzis, and a number of fresh faces, this family sitcom reboot serves as one of Peacock's most high-profile original/not-so-original shows to date. It's way too early to know if this show will find the same audience that turned the original NBC program into a cult favorite, though Peacock has high expectations for Frye's reprisal of her most famous character. Time will tell regarding the public's reception to this newest TV revival, though if you're wondering why you recognize the cast behind this streaming sitcom, we're here to help.

Here's where you've seen the Punky Brewster cast before.

Soleil Moon Frye (Punky Brewster)

As our grown-up title character, former child star Soleil Moon Frye reprises her most famous role at the forefront of Peacock's revival, which is also called Punky Brewster. The actress first played the part at age eight when NBC's Punky Brewster premiered in 1984. The beloved series only lasted four seasons, but it also included the cartoon spin-off, It's Punky Brewster, which featured Frye as the voice of the main character. Away from these shows, the actress is also known for Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Following that show's conclusion, Frye has worked primarily as a voice actress, most notably as the voice of Zoey in The Proud Family and Jade in the Bratz direct-to-DVD franchise. She can also be heard in Tiny Toon Adventures, Robot Chicken, and Planet Sheen.

Additionally, Soleil Moon Frye can be seen in films like Motel Blue, The St. Tammany Miracle, and Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings. Additionally, the TV actress hosted OWN's Home Made Simple. Furthermore, Frye wrote, starred in, and co-directed 1998's Wild Horses. She's also directed two documentaries, Sonny Boy and the upcoming Kid 90.

Freddie Prinze Jr. (Travis)

In the role of Travis, Punky's immature-but-caring ex-husband, Freddie Prinze Jr. plays the male lead in Peacock's Punky Brewster. Previously, the actor starred in I Know What You Did Last Summer, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, She's All That, and Summer Catch. Additionally, Prinze Jr. is remembered for playing Fred Jones in 2002's live-action Scooby-Doo and its 2004 sequel, Scooby-Doo: Monsters Unleashed. His other notable film credits include The House of Yes, Down to You, Boys and Girls, Head Over Heels, Brooklyn Rules, New York City Serenade, and Jack and Jill vs. The World.

Additionally, on TV, Freddie Prinze Jr. starred in or played recurring characters in 24, Boston Legal, and Freddie, where he also served as a producer and creator. He was also seen in Family Matters, Frasier, Friends, Boston Legal, Pysch, Witches of East End, George Lopez, and Bones. Outside of acting, Prinze Jr. hosted USA Network's First Impressions and, for a brief period of time, he was a host and creative consultant on WWE Raw. Furthermore, the actor frequently appears in Movie Trivia Schmoedown.

In the past decade-plus, not unlike his Punky Brewster co-star, Soleil Moon Frye, Freddie Prinze Jr. has established a second career for himself as a voice actor. Most notably, he lent his voice to Kanan Jarrus in Disney XD's Star Wars Rebels. Additionally, the actor can be heard in Shark Bait (also known as The Reef), Happily N'Ever After, Delgo, Mass Effect: Paragon Lost, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time, Robot Chicken, Bordertown, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Disney Infinity 3.0, and Star Wars Rebels: Recon Missions. Recently, Prinze Jr. worked on GEGG Wars: Galaxy of Crime.

Lauren Lindsey Donzis (Hannah)

Playing the part of Hannah, Punky's teenage daughter, Lauren Lindsey Donzis is the eldest child in Peacock's Penny Brewster. Previously, Donzis starred in Netflix's short-lived dramedy series, No Good Nick. She was also seen in the fourth season of Disney Channel's Liv and Maddie. Her other TV credits include Austin & Ally, Best Friends Whenever, Ghosted, All About the Washingtons, and The Young and the Restless. She also starred in Amazon Prime's An American Girl Story: Summer Camp, Friends For Life. Additionally, Donzis lent her voice to Disney Channel's animated series, 101 Dalmatian Street. Also, the child actress appears in a pair of short films, 2015's No She Wasn't, and 2019's Something Better. Next, Donzis appears in the upcoming sci-fi film, I Am Mortal.

Quinn Copeland (Izzy)

As Izzy, a spunky orphan adopted by Punky Brewster, Quinn Copeland plays a heartfelt character in Peacock's revival series. This show will serve as not only her breakout role but her screen introduction; she has no previous acting credits. It should come as no surprise to know that this prominent early part in this buzzy series is expected to make this young child actor's profile rise in the years to follow, much like how Soleil Moon Frye came to fame thanks to NBC's program. Certainly, it's a big deal for the new talent.

Oliver De Los Santos (Daniel)

In the role of Daniel, Punky's adopted son, Oliver De Los Santos received his first major part in Peacock's Punky Brewster. Prior to this revival, De Los Santos was seen in Yo Mama Battle! and Matt Henry's "Little Dead Bird" music video. He also appeared in Occupation: Rainfall, which premiered at Monster Fest and is expected to come out later this summer. Additionally, the child actor will star in the sports drama, Home Plate.

Noah Cottrell (Diego)

Playing the part of Diego, Punky's other adopted son, Noah Cottrell received one of his earliest roles in Peacock's Punky Brewster. Previously, Cottrell starred in Skyscraper. The child actor also appeared in an episode of VidAngel's The Chosen.

Cherie Johnson (Cherie)

As Cherie, Punky's best friend, Cherie Johnson reprises her role from the NBC favorite in Peacock's Punky Brewster. She also voiced Cherie in It's Punky Brewster. Away from these shows, Johnson is known for her long-standing part in ABC/CBS's Family Matters. Her other TV credits include Days of Our Lives, The Parkers, A Place Called Hollywood, and Eve. Outside of television, Johnson wrote, produced, and starred in 2009's indie rom-com, I Do ... I Did! She also split acting and producing duties on One Blood, A Place Called Hollywood, Crush, Dead Tone, and Raven. Additionally, Johnson produced Cash Rules. Her other acting credits include Teaching Mrs. Tingle, Killer Weekend, The Intruders, Lights Out, Nobody Smiling, Guardian of Eden, Fanaddict, Plum, Who Can I Run To, Signed, Sealed & Delivered, and Diamond Cobra vs. The White Fox.

Outside of acting, Cherie Johnson is also the author of Around the World Twice, Two Different Walks of Life: A Celebrity And Average Housewife, Peaches & Cream, and Stupid Guys Diary. She was also part of the talk show series, Girlfriends and Champagne, and she hosts the podcast, Cherie's World Podcast. Next, Johnson is expected to star in The Regiment, South Beacon Hill, Once A Soldier, and For My Friend.

Conor Husting (Sean)

In the role of Sean, Conor Husting will play a supporting character in Peacock's Punky Brewster. Previously, Husting had a prominent part in Netflix's The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia, which is also known as Ashley Garcia: Genius in Love. Additionally, the actor can be seen in several episodes of Prince of Peoria, while also making guest star appearances in Man with a Plan and 2020's Game On! A Comedy Crossover Event. On the big screen, Husting had a minor role in Almost Home. Next, he'll appear in Let Us In.

Hanani Taylor (Bree)

Playing the part of Bree, Hanani Taylor appears in a few episodes in Peacock's Punky Brewster revival. Previously, the actress was seen in Criminal Minds, Mr. Student Body President, Speechless, and The Orville. Taylor also plays the lead in 2019's short film, A-Minor. In addition to her television credits, the actress will soon be seen in Raise Your Hand and Puzzled. Taylor is also attached to star in The Gospel Truth and Lost in Terra Dimension. Furthermore, the actress is expected to write, produce, star in, and co-direct the horror film, Rosehill Dwelling, but there haven't been any new developments on the project since 2017.

Riley Go (Madison)

As Madison, Riley Go appears in a few episodes of Peacock's Punky Brewster revival. Outside of this streaming series, Go can be seen in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Teachers, Game Shakers, Scorpion, 2 Broke Girls, Better Things, Good Trouble, Conan, and The Big Bang Theory. She can also be heard in Whisker Haven Tales with the Palace Pets and Mickey and the Roadster Racers. Also, Go is expected to appear in Showtime's Rita.

With its mix of familiar faces and young newcomers, Peacock's Punky Brewster will serve as both a revival and reboot of this familiar NBC property. Whether it earns the same audience as the original series remains to be seen, but we don't have to wait long to find out how it fares. Punky Brewster will premiere on Peacock on February 25th.

1998-2004 was a weird period for Batman, as following Batman & Robin getting a critical beatdown, Warner Bros was desperate to find a way to reinvent the Caped Crusader for the big screen. Ultimately Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins was chosen to launch a new cinematic era for the superhero, but before then, among the projects that were in consideration was a Darren Aronofsky-directed Batman movie.

Had the Requiem for a Dream filmmaker gotten to make the Batman movie he wanted, he would have cast Joaquin Phoenix as Bruce Wayne. However, it turns out that the main reason Darren Aronofsky left the project is because Warner Bros wanted Freddie Prinze Jr. for the main role. As Aronofsky put it:

Darren Aronofsky was working on his Batman movie from late 2000-2001; at that time, Joaquin Phoenix had appeared in movies like Parenthood and Gladiator, while Freddie Prinze Jr. was best known for feature like I Know What You Did Last Summer and She’s All That. Considering how much of a teen icon he was, one could certainly make the argument that Prinze was the more famous of the two back then, and evidently Warner Bros was interested in having a more “clean cut” Bruce Wayne.

Alas, Darren Aronofsky didn’t agree with this casting decision and stepped away. Eventually this Batman project was set aside and Batman Begins was chosen as the character’s film appearance, with this continuity being continued in 2008’s The Dark Knight and 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises.

Similar to Batman Begins, Darren Aronofsky’s Batman movie would have explored Bruce Wayne’s superhero origins, specifically by being a more direct adaptation of Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One, from which Batman Begins only borrows a few elements. Aronofsky even worked with Miller on the script, which would have had nods to Death Wish, The French Connection and Taxi Driver.

Continuing in his interview with Empire, Darren Aronofsky laid out how he wanted to take Batman in a much darker direction compared to what we got in Batman & Robin, to the point that torture would have been shown. Aronofsky said:

While neither Joaquin Phoenix and Freddie Prinze Jr. got to play Batman, Phoenix did eventually contribute to the Dark Knight’s mythology when he starred in Joker as Arthur Fleck, the man moviegoers watched transform into the Clown Prince of Crime. As for Prinze, while he hasn’t starred in any comic book projects, he has left his mark on geek culture as the voice of Kanan Jarrus in Star Wars Rebels.

As for what the future of Batman on film, Matt Reeves has taken the directorial reins on The Batman, which stars Robert Pattinson as the eponymous protagonist. That movie is scheduled for release on June 25, 2021, although given that the production is on an indefinite hiatus, it’s possible that like what’s happened with so many movies lately, it could end up being pushed back.

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SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. If you have not yet seen the film, proceed at your own risk!

As the grand finale of the nine-episode Skywalker Saga, Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker was expected to reach deep into the franchise canon to execute a conclusion, and that expectation was very much met. Some big questions are answered, some significant arcs are brought to a close, and many characters came back for some final goodbyes.

It’s that last bit that we’re here to talk about in this feature. Not only did director J.J. Abrams manage to bring in some franchise legends, but also big actors in surprising roles and a handful of fun appearances. So let’s dig into it, shall we? Here are all of the cameos we know about in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker so far.

J.J. Abrams (D-O)

Bill Hader and Ben Schwartz were notably brought in to help create the voice for BB-8 in the making of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but the production didn’t go to outside consultation when it came to making D-O for Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. The droid notably speaks English (much like C-3PO), and while its modulated, the voice you’re hearing belongs to director J.J. Abrams. It marks the first time that he has acted as a character instead of himself since a 2001 episode of Alias in which he had a voice role.

Jodie Comer (Rey's Mother)

Those of you who are fans of the critically-acclaimed series Killing Eve probably got a bit of an extra thrill seeing Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker this weekend noticing that Villanelle herself, Jodie Comer, plays Rey’s unnamed mother (opposite actor Billy Howle as Rey’s father). It’s not clear if she is the daughter of Emperor Palpatine, or if that lineage is on her husband’s side, but either way it was fun seeing the Emmy winner in her first blockbuster (and actually only her second movie).

Warwick Davis (Wicket W. Warrick)

Warwick Davis has a long history playing multiple characters in the Star Wars universe (eight to be exact), but for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker he returned to the role that began his relationship with the legendary franchise. In 1983 Davis made his feature film debut playing the fuzzy Ewok named Wicket in Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi, and in 2019 he reprised that same role for a quick appearance following Rey’s defeat of the Sith. It’s a quick moment, but a cute one, and gives us an interesting look into the biology of the species (much like Wookiees, it appears that they age very slowly).

Harrison Ford (Han Solo)

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker may have rewritten a lot of what Star Wars: The Last Jedi implemented in the canon, but one fantastic detail that was maintained from Rian Johnson’s film was the idea that Kylo Ren was “haunted” by the spirit of his father, Han Solo, whom he killed in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. J.J. Abrams brought this to life in the new blockbuster, getting Harrison Ford to perform one last scene as the world’s favorite intergalactic smuggler. Abrams even finds a way to reference Solo’s famous “I know” line from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back – though this time the context refers to Kylo Ren a.k.a. Ben Solo reembracing the Light Side of the Force.

James Earl Jones (Darth Vader)

As we’ll get into more a bit later, not all of the cameos in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker were in-person, as the film finds a way to include a number of actors in voice-only roles. One perfect example is James Earl Jones, who has a single line toward the beginning of the film as Darth Vader speaking as an imitation performed by Emperor Palpatine. It’s a nice surprise, and Jones’ voice is always amazing to hear… though the much more substantial role he had in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story did make this appearance a tad less exciting.

Denis Lawson (Wedge Antilles)

Star Wars fans spent the majority of the Sequel Trilogy wondering what exactly had become of Wedge Antilles. The skilled pilot was a key part of some of the most important battles between the Rebels and the Empire in the original trilogy, and yet the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi suggested that he had moved on from fighting tyranny when the Rebellion became the Resistance. Just in time for the whole saga to end, though, Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker brought back actor Denis Lawson for a surprise appearance in the new film, featured as one of the heroes brought into battle by Lando Calrissian in the ultimate fight against the First/Final Order.

Andy Serkis (Supreme Leader Snoke)

Audiences worldwide were shocked to see Supreme Leader Snoke sliced in half in Star Wars: The Last Jedi given that it seemed he was being set up as the big bad of the Sequel Trilogy – but J.J. Abrams did still find a way for the character to have a minor part in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. Specifically, much like James Earl Jones as Darth Vader, you can hear Serkis’ voice spoken through the mouth of the Emperor early in the film when the master of the Dark Side is discussing possibilities for the future with Kylo Ren.

Chris Terrio (Colonel Aftab Ackbar)

Did you know that Admiral Ackbar had a son? Did you know that he was a colonel in the Resistance? Well, those are piece of information brought to light in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, as Colonel Aftab Ackbar makes his first big screen appearance. On screen the character is played by Tom Wilton, who wears the prosthetics necessary to bring the squid-like alien to life, but his voice is provided by none other than Chris Terrio – who co-wrote the film’s script with J.J. Abrams, and like the director couldn’t resist taking a role in the Star Wars universe.

John Williams (Oma Tres)

There are many reasons why Star Wars is a true icon of cinema, but the epic and unforgettable music composed by John Williams most certainly ranks high on the top of the list. As such, it’s only right that he have a small role to play in the actual universe, appearing on screen for the first time since a 1959 episode of the television series Johnny Staccato. He plays Oma Tres (an anagram of “Maestro”), and is hard to miss in the movie: he’s the bartender the camera lingers on when Poe, Rey, Finn and the other heroes visit the watering hole on Kijimi.

All Of The Jedi

Most of the cameos discussed so far are spread throughout the runtime of Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, but one particular sequence jams a bunch of them into the space of just a few seconds. I am, of course, referring to the moment when Rey reaches out with the Force to try and connect with all the dead Jedi of the past while doing battle with Emperor Palpatine. The chorus she hears in response includes the voices of just about every lightsaber-wielding hero we’ve ever seen on the big screen – and some we’ve only seen in animated features. The list includes:

Some of the voices are easier to pick out than others simply because of their recognizability (Samuel L. Jackson, Frank Oz, and Liam Neeson, for example, should click instantly for even casual fans), but the effort on the whole is very impressive. When you go back and watch Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker again in the future, see if you can identify each individual voice.

With so many characters sporting helmets and appearing as crazy aliens, we can never be fully sure about all of the cameos in Star Wars movies – and we fully expect that more will be revealed following the publication of this feature. For now, though, hit the comments below to tell us which of all the special appearances is your favorite.

Freddie Prinze Jr. became famous as the high school hunk type in She's All That, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and even Scooby-Doo. But he's high-key a massive Star Wars nerd. He voiced tragic hero Kanan Jarrus in the animated series Star Wars Rebels. Viewers aren't used to seeing his face in Star Wars movies, but he is very much part of the team -- and he's vocal about canon. Freddie is no casual fan, he will f-bomb shout you down in an epic canon rant, angrily explaining how The Force works and blasting fanfiction bullshit about "Gray Jedi." Yes, Fred from Scooby-Doo gets quite heated in the face of fans who "bitch about the dumbest shit."

Watch Freddie Prinze Jr.'s full NSFW rant from Jeff Dye's Friendship Podcast, and/or read his quotes below it:

"Star Wars is for fucking kids," he says, and Freddie Prinze Jr. may have been channeling an R-rated version of George Lucas there. Lucas himself reportedly said Star Wars was a film for 12-year-olds, sharing lessons of friendships, honesty, trust, doing the right thing, living in the light, and avoiding the dark side. But Prinze is very much an adult at 43-years-old and still a huge Star Wars fan. He's as invested as a Star Wars fan gets, dropping truths from George Lucas and dissecting fan theories and complaints. As he began his speech...

Star Wars isn't presented as a fairy tale, so fans may not want to look at Luke Skywalker in the same way as Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty. He doesn't burst into song or talk with animals ... but then again, in a way he does for R2-D2, and Han Solo does for Chewie. Leia was the one who bonded with Ewoks.

Freddie Prinze Jr. continued by schooling fans about The Force, as he was taught by Star Wars Rebels creator and an executive producer Dave Filoni, who was later promoted to oversee all Lucasfilm Animation projects.

I'm curious about the part where he suggests if you understand The Force balance you'll know who will win and lose in the next Star Wars films:

Spill it or it never happened! Here's more from Freddie Prinze Jr. as he dissects fan favorite characters and their archetypes:

Oh, and here he is blasting Gray Jedi:

Phew! He may think Star Wars is for kids, but that f-bomb rant was definitely aimed at adults. Do you agree with any or all of his points? What do you think about Star Wars being for kids, and some adults are upset at the franchise not aging with them? There have been fan complaints about Star Wars since the Ewoks showed up (I still love you guys) and they got more heated with the prequels and really took off with Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

At the same time, The Force has achieved balance there too -- millions of original fans still love Star Wars, and the franchise is picking up new young fans all the time. Star Wars: The Force Awakens has the record for the highest-grossing movie of all time at the domestic U.S./Canada box office. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker ends the Skywalker saga this December, but Lucasfilm's franchise is still continuing on the big and small screens.

If you've been craving some more Freddie Prinze Jr. in your life, you might just be about to get your wish, since the actor looks to be making a major return to the small screen before too long. After spending many of the past few years doing voice work in video games and on animated shows like Star Wars: Rebels and Robot Chicken, Freddie Prinze Jr. is heading to TV for his first major live action role in almost a decade. Prinze just signed on to the CBS comedy pilot, I Mom So Hard where he'll play one of the two male leads opposite creators and stars Kristin Hensley and Jen Smedley.

The multi-camera comedy will see Freddie Prinze Jr. play Hale, a former athlete who's married to Jen and now works from home. Hale has a dry sense of humor and a great friendship with his wife's best friend, Kristin, and her husband, Brian (David Fynn, Undateable). I Mom So Hard, which is based on the popular #imomsohard web series from Hensley and Smedley, will focus on two mothers who use their friendship to help them deal with the pressures and struggles of being wives and mothers. According to Deadline, the CBS pilot comes from Michelle Nader (2 Broke Girls) and Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars), with a script co-written by Hensley, Smedley and Nader.

As was mentioned above, this is actually a big move for Freddie Prinze Jr. After becoming known in the late 1990s and early 2000s for a string of teen and young adult focused movies like I Know What You Did Last Summer and its sequel, She's All That, Down to You, Summer Catch, Scooby-Doo and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, he moved away from films and began making guest appearances on TV shows and focusing on voice work. Aside from a season-long stint on his own television show, Freddie, from 2005-2006 and a season spent on 24 in 2010, his live action TV work has been in a guest starring capacity. He's lent his talents to series like Friends, George Lopez, Boston Legal, Psych, Witches of East End and Bones. His other voice work has included Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time, Mass Effect 3, Dragon Age: Inquisition and Bordertown.

Since CBS has only ordered a pilot for I Mom So Hard at this time, we don't when (or if) the comedy will hit the small screen, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend and we'll keep you up to date on new information about the show as it becomes available. For more information on what you can watch in the coming weeks, be sure to check out our midseason premiere guide, 2018 Netflix premiere guide and this year's Amazon Prime schedule.

Former Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Crazy Ones star Sarah Michelle Gellar has revealed that she experienced postpartum depression after the birth of her first child, Charlotte Grace Prinze. The 40-year-old actress took to social media to explain her struggle with a form of depression that 11-20% of women experience after giving birth. Gellar broached the caption in a gentle manner, and the message turned out lovely. Check out what Gellar had to say:

Sarah Michelle Gellar shared the encouraging post with her 1.5 million Instagram followers. Gellar and her husband, actor Freddie Prinze Jr., also have a four-year-old son, Rocky James Prinze. In other words, Gellar knows a thing or two about what it is like to have a child. The Cruel Intentions actress's intent behind the social media post was to bolster conversation about the health care bill recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, especially related to how postpartum depression is treated.

Now Sarah Michelle Gellar joins a list of other women in Hollywood who are making their stories about postpartum depression known. Earlier this year, the cohost of Lip Sync Battle Chrissy Teigen opened up about her battle with postpartum depression. Some months ago, superstar singer Adele also talked about her battle with postpartum depression after the birth of her son. Hayden Panettiere, Courtney Cox, Brooke Shields, Alanis Morissette, and Celine Dion have talked about it. Kristen Bell opened up about her experience and said she felt disconnected from her daughter because of postpartum depression. Moreover, the potential future Queen of England, Kate Middleton (i.e. Princess Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge) even talked about ways motherhood was lonely for her after she gave birth to Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

It is heartening to see Sarah Michelle Gellar and other women in the public eye getting real about this real and debilitating form of depression. The gentle way Sarah Michelle Gellar approached the topic was beautiful. By speaking up about her personal experience and speaking out on behalf of mothers everywhere, Gellar is helping to normalize this natural, serious, treatable concern.

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze, Jr.’s family has grown again. The smiley, happy couple who recently celebrated their tenth anniversary welcomed in their second child last week. Most details about the birth are still being held under wraps at this point, but the couple’s representative has offered a few of the more pressing facts.

According to People, the newborn is a boy, and both he and his mother got through the delivery with their health. The couple’s other child, three-year-old Charlotte Grace, is said to be elated about the new addition, though it’s unclear which sex she would have preferred. The delivery happened locally in Los Angeles, and more than likely, more details will start to trickle out over the next few days.

Gellar and Prinze met on the set of I Know What You Did Last Summer a decade and a half ago. They began dating almost immediately and were married in 2002. Over the course of their relationship, they’ve made it a point to stay out of the headlines and have consistently chosen family time over advancing their careers. The bouncing baby boy will no doubt make things a little louder and more chaotic in the home, but his presence should also bring quite a few smiles too.

Pop Blend sends out its sincerest congratulations to to both Freddie and Sarah Michelle. Here’s to hoping the little guy is as talented as his parents and has as sensible of a name as his sister.

When Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr welcomed a daughter into their lives almost three years ago, the celebrity couple decided they’d take turns going to work in order to make sure at least one would be consistently home. For the first two years, Gellar was the one who held down the domestic duties. Last year, when Prinze tagged in, he was supposed to take his own two year shift with Charlotte, but now that schedule has been interrupted by welcome news.

According to US Weekly, Gellar is pregnant with she and Prinze’s second child. None of the specifics have been publicly confirmed, but by all accounts, the two are pleased as punch about the impending addition to their family.

Because the due date isn’t common knowledge, it’s hard to discern how this might affect production on Gellar’s CW show Ringer, but given her status, it’s likely the network would work around her schedule, whether she chooses to wear baggy sweatshirts or take a hiatus.

Approaching their ten year anniversary, Gellar and Prinze have remained remarkably stable over the past decade as so many of their fellow celebrities have found themselves in divorce court. By all accounts, they seem to get along great, and their second child will hopefully do nothing but strengthen that bond. Pop Blend wishes the happy couple nothing but the best as they pick up a second joyful challenge.

Kiefer Sutherland and FOX have already stated they are open to continuing 24 into a ninth season, but it will all come down to how well-received this New York-based eighth season will be. Particularly the two-night four hour premiere event that starts tonight at 9 PM ET. I'll give them credit for giving us four great hours of 24 action to kick things off.

I've been a fan of 24 since the first season. I have a thing for experimental television, and the "real-time" experiment was enough to get me to tune in. The series has had its ups and downs, but it really feels like things are off to a great start on Jack's eighth "very bad day." Now retired from government work, there's an element of Lethal Weapon to this grizzled and older Jack Bauer I saw in the first four episodes FOX sent my way.

He starts the day off playing the role of grandpa, actually smiling for the first time since Audrey Raines, and considering a move to Los Angeles to be able to spend more time with his daughter and granddaughter. I was a little surprised to see that Kim had hooked up with The Vampire Diaries' Stefan. I thought he was only into women who looked the same as the vampire who turned him.

The way in which Jack was inevitably brought into the craziness of the day was well-handled, and featured the return to my screen of The Shield's Benito Martinez. If he's on TV anywhere, it's not something I'm watching, and maybe I should be. If he's not, the man is an amazing actor.

The stakes raise higher and higher throughout the first four hours, but 24 also does something kind of nice for us. They actually put a close on the initial threat, though as expected it only shows us how big and more deadly the threat really is.

Cherry Jones is back as the President Allison Taylor, and she's joined by Anil Kapoor as President of a Middle Eastern country that is actually working with her toward lasting peace in the region. Of course, there are elements in the world who don't want to see peace in the Middle East, so there's your reason Jack's day is about to be ruined, in case you need one.

Also back is Annie Wersching as Renee Walker. I really grew to like her character in Season 7, but she always was a bit of a loose cannon. Her return here is handled excellently, as is the hints as to what her relationship with Jack has been and likely will be as the day progresses.

And, of course, Chloe (Mary Lynn Rajskub) is back as well, but this time they've put her at a disadvantage. Out of the work force for awhile, suddenly Chloe is behind the times and struggling to catch up to speed at the New York CTU, which has brought her under scrutiny from the new boss, Brian Hastings. This guy is an interesting character, and CTU has had some characters through the years, both good and bad, in that leadership role. I won't spoil the surprise, but I anticipate some major conflicts as things progress.

I was impressed with how well Katee Sackhoff and Freddie Prinze, Jr. integrated into the story. A largely new cast works perfectly well with this new 24 as we're in a new city. Right away, though, you get great insight into Prinze's Field Ops leader, as well as the unraveling secreat past of Sackhoff's Dana Walsh. It is these character elements and little side mysteries that help make the best season of 24 so much fun.

It's a little early to declare this one of the best seasons of 24 to date, but it's certainly off to a start that could easily put it there. With all the changes, and the new location, it almost feels like the first season all over again. Everything is shiny and new. Except, of course, that if you give Jack a gun and a bad guy, the screaming and threats will begin immediately.

24 premieres Sunday, January 17 at 9 PM ET with a two-hour episode, followed by another two-hour installment Monday, January 18 at 8 PM ET. It then continues on Mondays at 9 PM ET.