Something emotional is happening behind the cameras of The Summer I Turned Pretty—and fans are beginning to notice it in every interview, every social media post, and every leaked behind-the-scenes interaction.
The cast already seems to be saying goodbye.
As filming continues through May 2026, emotional energy surrounding the production has reportedly intensified, with sources describing the atmosphere on set as “deeply sentimental.”
And honestly, it’s easy to understand why.
For actors like Lola Tung and Christopher Briney, this franchise didn’t just launch successful careers—it completely changed their lives. The series turned relatively unknown performers into global streaming stars almost overnight.
Now, they’re filming what could be their final scenes together as Belly and Conrad.
That reality appears to be hitting both the cast and the fandom hard.
Fans analyzing recent set videos have pointed out unusually emotional interactions between cast members between takes: long hugs, quiet conversations, lingering moments after scenes wrap. While none of this officially confirms anything, viewers are convinced the actors themselves understand the significance of this moment.
This isn’t just another season renewal.
This is closure.
And perhaps the most emotional part is that the actors are beginning to move into entirely different phases of their careers at the exact same time the franchise is ending. Lola Tung has multiple new film projects lined up, while Christopher Briney continues expanding into more mature television and theater roles.
In a strange way, the cast’s real lives now mirror the themes of the movie itself: growing up, moving on, and leaving behind a chapter that once defined everything.
That parallel is exactly why anticipation for the film feels so emotional already.
Fans aren’t just preparing to say goodbye to Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah.
They’re preparing to say goodbye to an entire era of their own lives—the summers, the theories, the heartbreak, the late-night debates, the soundtrack moments, and the feeling that Cousins Beach would somehow always be there waiting.
But now, for the first time, the ending feels real.
And that may be the hardest part of all.