Jonah Hauer-King was in THIS Heartbreaking Film before I Know What You Did Last Summer

Before I Know What You Did Last Summer: Jonah Hauer-King’s heartbreaking role in Ashes in the Snow.

The cast of I Know What You Did Last Summer, the 2025 film part of the iconic horror franchise, has been making its rounds for press and publicity all over the country! One of the leading actors, known for projects like World on Fire, the live-action The Little Mermaid, and more, was in this heartbreaking yet beautifully done film before his horror debut!

What is Ashes in the Snow based on?

Ashes in the Snow is a film based on true, devastating historical events that are hard to stomach, especially with the current issues going on in the LA area. The film is based on the book Between Shades of Gray, authored by Ruta Sepetys. The book and film are centered around the events of World War II, during Stalin’s rule, and the horrors many faced during the Soviet deportation of Lithuanians, Latvians, and Estonians to Siberian labor camps. The main character, sixteen-year-old aspiring artist Lina (played by Bel Powley in the film), in this story was one of the victims of this historical tragedy, along with her mother and little brother.

The three were deported to a Soviet gulag alongside others in the plot. While the characters and storyline of Lina’s journey are fictional, according to Sepetys’ website, she conducted thorough research and collected many testimonies in Lithuania. She created a fictional story to make it easier for survivors to share their testimonies, ensuring their privacy regarding their trauma wouldn’t be invaded.

As a daughter of a Lithuanian refugee herself, her work has been praised worldwide for her passion for bringing awareness to this violence that has been unknown to many parts of the world. And in this special book… main character Lina meets Andrius, who is where the I Know What You Did Last Summer lead actor comes in!

Jonah Hauer-King’s Moving Role

Seventeen-year-old Andrius was the main love interest of Lina in both the book by Ruta Sepetys and the film based on it. The portrayal? It was acted out by none other than Jonah Hauer-King himself. He starred alongside the film with Bel Powley, both of whom gave compelling performances. His character was deported alongside Lina, except that he had no siblings. He had been deported to the same labor camp as her with his mother, and his personality came off as protective, but brave and kind.

In love with Lina, he made sure to care for her family even though he himself was a victim to this same fate. Hauer-King explained that his character would steal and give food to Lina and her family, and as the son of a military officer with knowledge of the NKVD, he saved Lina’s family several times. “In the film, he risks his life and goes and steals a surprise, goods, food, and drink for the other prisoners. I think he’s constantly putting other people first, which is a very admirable quality.” He reflected in an interview for the film.

His character, closer to the NKVD and forced into certain situations, overhears conversations, learns secrets, and learns who’s on deportation and even execution lists. Throughout the film and book, as Hauer-King expressed, his protective nature was vital to the plot and relationship with Lina.

Jonah Hauer-King’s Latest Role

So what has Jonah Hauer-King in the headlines right now? Well, it’s his latest involvement in the Sony Pictures film I Know What You Did Last Summer. Horror fans have been eagerly anticipating this project for some time, and the suspense extends beyond the film itself, having built up during the long wait for its release among many. The film centers around a group of friends who mistakenly cause a fatal car accident. Instead of taking ownership or revealing the truth, they cover up their involvement and protect themselves from the potential consequences. Or at least… attempt to.

But a year later, a killer terrorizes the group seeking revenge for the incident the previous year. And they all go to the two survivors of the Southport Massacre of 1997 for help. Leading cast is none other than Jonah Hauer-King as Milo Griffin, a member of the friend group. He’s starring alongside Madelyn Cline, who plays Danica Richards. As well as Chase Sui Wonders (as Ava Brucks), Tyriq Withers (as Teddy Spencer), and Sarah Pidgeon (as Stevie Ward). Also in the film in their reprised roles are Jennifer Love Hewitt, who played Julie James in the first two installments, as well as Freddie Prinze Jr. as Ray Bronson, who also starred alongside Hewitt.

Exclusive Cast Interview

Nerdtropolis previously got to interview four of the leading five in the film (Hauer-King, Sui Wonders, Withers, Richards, and Ward). When asked who in real life would be most likely to be taken down by the killer, Ward revealed they all made a “pact” that they would all go down together. “Live together, die together.” Hauer-King added on, and responded, “That’s so true,” to Ward bantering with “Live by the sword, die by the sword.

I Know What You Did Last Summer releases on July 18th in theaters. Make sure you don’t miss Jonah Hauer-King and the rest of the cast in this horror film of the summer!

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