SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for “The Summer I Turned Pretty” series finale, “At Last,” released Sept. 17 on Amazon’s Prime Video.
“The Summer I Turned Pretty” has officially wrapped — and the creator, Jenny Han, is finally giving some answers.
On Wednesday, Prime Video released the last episode of Season 3, during which Conrad (Christopher Briney) surprised Belly (Lola Tung) in Paris and the pair finally got back together. Meanwhile, his brother and her ex, Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) did not come to Paris but is now a successful (?) chef and has a new romance with Denise (Isabella Briggs).
So, how and why were there photos of Casalegno in Paris leaked by paparazzi? Below, Han talks about just that and opens up about the movie that’s in the works, which will serve as one last visit to Cousins to wrap up Belly’s love story.
The finale had a bit of a different tone than the rest of the season, as Belly was a bit colder to Conrad than she’s ever been. What conversations did you have with Lola about her reaction ahead of filming?
I don’t think of it necessarily as colder. I think that she was protective of herself, and she wanted to sort of keep him a bit at arm’s length because he arrives, and he’s the one person who could blow up her whole life that she has created for herself in Paris. I think she’s afraid. Her feelings for him have always been really intense. And we heard her say it in Season 2 that she doesn’t think she’s ever loved anyone in that way, and she doesn’t think she ever will again, because it would destroy her. She’s trying to guard her own heart, but I also think she just carries an enormous amount of guilt and shame for the choices that she’s made.
Did you film with Gavin in Paris just to throw fans off?
Yes, I think that I was worried that if we never saw him there, then it would feel like the ending was very inevitable. I really wanted to protect that experience for the audience.
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I know it wasn’t two-tier, but was Jeremiah making a dark chocolate cake with a raspberry coulis filling and a mirror glaze?
It was not. It was a chocolate lava cake. It’s ironic because Jeremiah loves chocolate and Gavin hates chocolate. We had a chef on set who was making them.
There’s a bit of a time jump at the end of the show. Belly’s hair is long enough to be in a bun. Can you say how far ahead that was?
No, I can’t say how far ahead it is, but it is ahead.
What was the four-hour comment on TikTok about? Was it teasing the movie?
No and it wasn’t even me! It was the show’s account; I think it was referring to a meme? It wasn’t me.
Will we find out who Lucinda was dating?
I don’t know! That’s really interesting that your curiosity is about who she was dating!
Fans want to know! Were the number 14s put in the show on purpose?
No, they weren’t. I’m glad that you asked me that question, because I was seeing a lot of frenzy around 14 and thinking that they were getting 14 episodes. I think from experience, when you get excited about that, and then it doesn’t happen, it’s very disappointing. So I always like people to manage expectations, but there wasn’t anything with 14. An Easter egg to me is more of a wink to the fans or narrative foreshadowing in some kind of way. It’s something that you maybe don’t pick up on right away, but then you look back and you understand why something was what it was, but I don’t really think of it as clues.
OK let’s talk the movie. You’ve written an early draft, but it’s still very early. Is it safe to say that it’ll be out next year?
No, I don’t think so. I don’t know when it will be out, but I don’t think it’s safe to say next year because we haven’t filmed it yet. I honestly, really want that extra time, because it’s just getting the actors a little bit closer to adulthood. We’re getting to see Belly at 15, turning 16, and then seeing her as this young woman. And now Lola is 22! I think that I always wanted some distance for the movie, so I’m really glad to get that breathing space.
Do we know how far ahead, time wise, the movie will jump?
No.
Have you told the cast any storylines?
No.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
From Variety US