He believes that the director of the film didn't want him to be in it and that he wanted to "fight that guy twice or three times" during production.

Freddie Prinze Jr. is first to admit that "I Know What You Did last Summer" was the film that launched his career. However, he claims that he almost quit the project after encountering problems on set.

This 1997 slasher was the first film that Prinze Jr. acted in. It featured Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, and Jennifer Love Hewitt running from a fisherman who they had run over last summer. It made Prinze Jr. a teen idol, and it was where he met Gellar, his future wife and mother of their children.

TooFab spoke with Prinze Jr. about his horror podcast That Was Pretty Scary, which launched with an episode dedicated to IKWYDLS. Prinze Jr. expressed gratitude for the experience and shared why it was so difficult for him.

Freddie, 47, watched the movie for his podcast. He shared that he had never seen the film in its entirety before and left to go bowling after he walked the red carpet. He said, "I don’t want to see me face, and I hate how I look. I don’t think I’m a good looking dude."

It wasn't because it had been a hard job. He clarified that it was just one of these things. Prinze Jr. said that many of the "weird and bad things" that happened on set were due to one thing: the director didn't want him there.

"It wasn't that we didn't get along, I knew the right choices for Ray's character. He wanted a different actor. A really great actor named Jeremy Sisto. "Freddie said that it was Kevin Williamson, the writer and studio, who pushed for Prinze Jr. He said that they prevailed over Jim Gillespie, the director.

"I'll give him this, I believe his name is Jim. He made no bones about that. He was not passive aggressive -- which I loathe -- he was direct and stated that he didn't want him in this movie. It just wrecks you when you hear those words. It wrecks you."

Although he and Gellar were not yet in a relationship and would not for a while, Prinze Jr. acknowledged that Phillippe and her helped to talk him off the ledge. Although they aren't now close, they formed a strong bond while working out together in preparation for the movie. He says that the bond lasted after filming started.

"So, I had those moments when the director was giving me psychotic comments, such as "Don't open your mouth." That's a note that I will never forget. It said, "You look stupid when that happens." And I was like, I don't know what to do. He continued, "Those were the only options in my mind." Ryan approached me and said, "Screw him, man. What was the number of times you auditioned for this movie? I say, "Five times." He replies, "Yeah, it was earned." The role wasn't offered to you, it was earned. You were the only one there, and you saw fewer people each time. Keep in mind what booked you for this role. Screw his notes. You can ignore any note he gives and just say "Okay, do what you want." He was the one who said that to me.

While he appreciated both Phillippe's and Gellar's guidance, who have more experience thanks to years of soap operas before booking the horror film, Prinze Jr. claims that his interactions with the director had a negative effect on him.

It was difficult to get up in the morning, or even in the afternoon, as we had so many nights of shooting. But it was possible to wake up and be ready for work. I knew that I would be playing Mr. Pay No Mind when we set up rehearsal. He would give notes to everyone before we shot any footage or before rehearsal. He made it a point of single me out, would gather the other actors without me, and would give them all notes. And I was like, well, was he trying to do some method junk? I just don't understand."

According to the actor, the director confirmed his suspicions and told him straight out that he didn't want him in the film. Freddie said that he almost quit the film after a mishap while filming a scene aboard a motorboat. It was a "near-death experience" that Freddie calls a "breaking point". For the complete story, listen to the podcast below.

"I nearly caught a plane and flew home. I was done. I was done. They were guilty of breaking a lot of union stuff they shouldn't have. There were many things. He told TooFab that he felt the same way. "There are other things I could do. To make this movie, I dropped out Le Cordon Bleu. I will be a chef because that is what my mom asked me to do anyways. That night, I packed up my bags. "I was going to quit the business."

Freddie was able to calm down and a producer intervened.

"I wanted to fight him two or three times. Once, I felt that he had a legitimate reason. The other two, I was pissed off. I'm glad everyone talked me down," Freddie now says, acknowledging the positives of the film. "In hindsight I don't regret it, because that movie launched me into my career. Without that movie, I wouldn’t have my wife, all the movies I’ve made, and this podcast. This interview wouldn't have been possible. It was that struggle that brought me here, and that pain that caused me to be here.

It was difficult to finish work each day. I was in pain every day while making that movie. It prepared me for the business in a way. Although it sounds strange to say, I am forever grateful to Jim for being an asshole. I have never met anyone like him since." he said. I'm prepared for any other A-holes in the business. He's sure to be a hero in another's tale. He helped someone and they loved him. He took a lot out of me as a director. He was a new director and didn't have much time. He didn't even have the budget to hire the actor he desired. And he didn’t know how to handle that frustration.

TooFab reached out to Gillespie in order for comments.

Although Freddie said the experience was disappointing overall and he felt miserable for much of it, he had "exactly the opposite experience" while working on "I Still Know What you Did Last Summer." Danny Cannon directed the 1998 sequel. Freddie stated that he could be difficult to work for, but also "never demanded anything" from anyone.

Freddie watched the original 1997 film for the first time after making it. He said he could still see how certain "challenges” on set had affected his performance. He said, "It was one of the most difficult jobs I've ever had," and added that he is glad he got it over with so quickly.

Jon Lee Brody, his podcast host, was also present at the screening. His wife, who had not seen the film since its premiere, joined him as well. Although it was a "crazy awesome experience", they won't likely be screening the film for their entire family, including Rocky, 9, and Charlotte, 14. "I don’t want her to watch her mom die. That's why I haven’t shown it yet. My son is nine years old, but he's not afraid of anything. Prinze Jr. said that he could see it tomorrow and say, "Mom, that was so cool when you killed him."

"I know what you did last summer" is one of many horror films he and Brody will discuss on their That Was Pretty Scary podcast. They also have episodes for "Scream," Chopping Mall, and "M3GAN" -- which he allowed his daughter to see. The show is about the films being covered, and there's no trashing or bashing. This is his Wrestling with Freddie podcast. It's just another way for him to explore an area he likes and share it with others. Although the "Last Summer," movies may be his only true horror film, he says he wishes it wasn't. He said, "Nobody would allow me to do that because they wanted to see me be the sweet boy who struggled for love for 96 minutes every single time."

We are hoping that he will be able to return to the world of evil fisherman with a planned sequel in the future -- although it is not yet a done deal.

The new episodes of That Was Pretty Scary air Wednesdays on Wondery+ before being released to the general population the week following.

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Title: Freddie Prinze Jr. Almost Quit Acting After 'Miserable' Experience Filming IKWYDLS (Exclusive)
Sourced From: toofab.com/2023/03/14/freddie-prinze-jr-almost-quit-acting-after-ikwydls/
Published Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2023 15:45:07 +0000

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