Belly and Conrad are officially heading back to Cousins Beach. Production on the feature film finale for The Summer I Turned Pretty franchise is scheduled to begin this spring, bringing the beloved story to the big screen. Following the major success of the three-season Prime Video series, creator Jenny Han will write and direct the movie, which will continue the romance between Isabel “Belly” Conklin and Conrad Fisher. The film is expected to start shooting in Wilmington, North Carolina, on April 27, 2026, with a likely release window in 2027.
Production and Filming Details for the Upcoming Movie
According to industry reports, principal photography for The Summer I Turned Pretty movie is set to take place over a two-month period from late April to late June 2026. The production will return to Wilmington, North Carolina, the real-life filming location that has stood in for the fictional Cousins Beach throughout the entire series. This return to the iconic beach house is a key detail for fans, as much of the third season took the characters to various international locations, away from their primary summer home.
The script for the film is already completed. Jenny Han, who authored the original book trilogy and created the television adaptation, wrote the screenplay alongside writer Sarah Kucserka. Han will also step into the director’s chair for this final chapter. While Amazon Prime Video has not released an official statement confirming the April start date, the details reported by multiple industry sources indicate that pre-production is actively underway.
Cast Members Returning for the Final Chapter
The core love triangle from the series will reunite for the movie. Stars Lola Tung and Christopher Briney are confirmed to reprise their leading roles as Belly Conklin and Conrad Fisher. Gavin Casalegno is also expected to return as Jeremiah Fisher, Conrad’s brother and Belly’s other great love.
The full supporting cast has not been officially announced, but it is anticipated that other series regulars could return. This includes Sean Kaufman as Belly’s brother, Steven, Jackie Chung and Rachel Blanchard as the mothers, and Colin Ferguson and Tom Everett Scott as the fathers. The movie serves as the definitive conclusion to the story that began in Jenny Han’s novels 17 years ago.
Story Expectations and Potential Plot Points
Specific plot details for the movie are being kept secret. However, Jenny Han has provided some clues. She has stated that the film will follow “another big milestone left in Belly’s journey”. For fans of the books, this strongly suggests the story will adapt the final chapters of the third novel, We’ll Always Have Summer, which features a major life event for Belly and Conrad.
The third season of the show ended with Belly and Conrad reconciling in Paris after years of complicated history. The series finale did not include the wedding epilogue from the books, leaving that storyline open for the film to explore. The movie will likely pick up after their Paris reunion, focusing on their relationship as young adults and the challenges and joys that come with committing to a future together.
Prime Video Release Information and Global Success
The Summer I Turned Pretty movie will be released globally on Amazon Prime Video, continuing the franchise’s exclusive partnership with the streaming platform. An exact premiere date has not been set, but with filming planned for mid-2026, a 2027 release is highly probable. Jenny Han has confirmed the film will not be ready for a 2026 release.
The decision to create a film follows the record-breaking performance of the series. Season 3 reached 70 million viewers worldwide in its first 70 days on Prime Video, representing a 65% increase in global viewership over Season 2. The season ranked as the No. 1 title on the platform in over 140 countries and has generated over 915 million social media engagements, making it Prime Video’s most socially talked-about series ever.
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Fan Reactions and Anticipation for the Film
Since the movie was officially announced on September 17, 2025—the same day the Season 3 finale debuted—fans have been eagerly awaiting news. Early rumors of a surprise holiday 2025 release were quickly dismissed by Han, who asked for patience as the project moved through the normal production timeline.
The news of an April filming start has generated excitement on social media, with many fans expressing happiness that the story will return to the familiar setting of Wilmington and the Cousins Beach house. The promise of a proper, feature-length conclusion to Belly and Conrad’s love story has been met with widespread approval from the show’s dedicated global audience.
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