Here's Why Ryan Phillippe Isn't In "I Know What You Did Last Summer"

Ryan Phillippe Isn't In I Know What You Did Last Summer

Jennifer Love Hewitt (Julie James) and Freddie Prinze Jr. (Ray Bronson) both reprised their roles in the sequel to the 1997 film — which initially centered on four teenage friends on the run from a serial killer. Even Sarah Michelle Gellar returned to play late beauty queen Helen Shivers in the form of a dream. However, Ryan's character, Barry Cox, who died in the original film, remained on ice.

Well, according to producer Neal H. Moritz, Ryan's return almost happened, but with so many easter eggs in the film already, that "would've been pushing it."

Neal told People, "It just got to be too much. We have a Barry Cox mention. He gets a shout-out. But, yeah, it started to feel like too many ideas."

"But it is not for a lack of love of Ryan," he quickly added. "He is amazing. And I do think there is a very fun way to integrate Ryan into a sequel that I hope happens."

For now, fans can catch Ryan on Motorheads, an Amazon Prime series about an unlikely group that bonds over their shared love of street racing. He's also set to appear in an upcoming drama, One Mile, its sequel, One More Mile, and the thriller The Patient.