Here's how Riverdale season 4 will be based on I Know What You Did Last Summer

16 May 2019, 18:48

By Sam Prance

The new villain will be even scarier than the Gargoyle King and the Black Hood...

Riverdale season 4 will be based on I Know What You Did Last Summer and it references it in its season 3 ending.

Does Jughead die in Riverdale season 4? Is Cole Sprouse leaving?

Ever since Riverdale first aired in 2017, it's become known for its wild, terrifying and entertaining storylines. Each season has its own unique mystery. Season 1 focused on the murder of Jason Blossom, season 2 revolved around the masked serial killer the Black Hood and season 3 was all about the Gargoyle King. Up until recently the cast and crew have kept quiet about the theme of season 4 but now Riverdale's show runner has revealed what it's about.

What does the Riverdale season 3 ending tease about season 4?

Riverdale season 4 will be based on I Know What You Did Last Summer
Riverdale season 4 will be based on I Know What You Did Last Summer. Picture: The CW

I Know What You Did Last Summer is a 1997 slasher film based on a 1973 novel of the same name by Lois Duncan. It tells the story of four teenagers who accidentally run over a stranger and cover it up by throwing his body in the ocean and agreeing to never discuss what happened again. One year later, they're all stalked by a hook-wielding killer and it's the man they ran over; he never died. The movie stars Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe and Freddie Prinze Jr..

Riverdale references the film in the season 3 finale in which Betty, Archie and Veronica are shown in their underwear, burning their clothes by a fire in the woods. Betty says: "We have to burn all our clothes, including Jughead's beanie. We'll wash off the blood in the swimming hole. After tonight, we never speak of this. Ever. Not to each other, not to our parents. No one. We finish our senior year, we graduate, and we go our separate ways. That is the only way that we won't get caught."

Sounds familiar, right? Although there could be a twist. Jughead doesn't appear in the teaser, so it's currently unclear if the Core Four have killed Jughead or a complete stranger like in IKWYDLS. Either way the parallels are obvious and, if it's at all like the film it's based on, all of them are in danger. In IKWYDLS, only one of the four main characters survives and it's absolutely terrifying. Prepare to scream all season long essentially.

Speaking about it with TV Line, Riverdale showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa said: "Every year, we try to explore a different genre, or a different type of pulp or noir trope. This next season, it’s sort of our homage to the novels we read growing up, like Christopher Pike and Lois Duncan, [who wrote] I Know What You Did Last Summer and Killing Mr. Griffin. I’m a huge fanatic of Donna Tartt’s novel The Secret History."

I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers

Aguirre-Sacasa then added: "So we kind of wanted to explore a genre that focused on the school and the students, and that’s what led to the flash-forward." It looks like the first half of season 4 will cover the events that lead up to the murder and the second will be about Betty, Archie, Veronica (and Jughead?) trying to keep what they did secret.

If they kill (?) Jughead, will he come back and try to get revenge by murdering them too? Could they kill Penelope as she's now gone missing after being exposed as the Gargoyle King? Could it be someone we're yet to meet? We have no idea. Whatever it is though we're excited and we can't wait to find out what the writers have in store for us.

Here's hoping that one of the stars of the original film joins the cast. Riverdale is no stranger to casting 90s legends and Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe and Freddie Prinze Jr. would all be perfect for the show.

What do you think? Are you excited about Season 4?