How a Fake Finale Plot Twist Was Born: Jenny Han Spoils Nothing and Keeps Fans Guessing

Riley Carter here, and yes, I am that millennial who still timestamp-checks a premiere like a religion. Okay, but like, why is this a thing? Because the creator of The Summer I Turned Pretty just dropped a plot twist so cheeky it deserves a spoiler alert sticker and a Nobel Prize for misdirection. The short version: Jenny Han and the Season 3 squad reportedly filmed fake finale scenes while in Paris, specifically to protect the actual ending from leaking. The longer version is where the tea gets saucier, so buckle up.

First, the context. The third and final season of The Summer I Turned Pretty wrapped production in Paris, a setting that already sounds cinematic enough to justify a little mischief. Lola Tung, who stars as Belly Conklin, was photographed reuniting with Gavin Casalegno, who plays Jeremiah Fisher. The moment sent fans spiraling on social media, sparking wild theories about Belly and Jeremiah potentially ending up together. If you were scrolling through TikTok or Reddit last year, you might have seen the fan-made buzz that Belly and Jeremiah were endgame. Spoiler alert from the finale we eventually watched in 2025: Belly did not end up with Jeremiah. Instead, the ending teased a different, more shock-friendly pairing, leaving some fans astonished and others convinced it was a red herring.

So did the fake clips actually exist, or was it a live-action bluff? Creator Jenny Han spoke with Entertainment Weekly to explain the strategy. According to Han, the fake-scene filming was a deliberate tactic to shield the true ending from the spoils culture that tags along with big productions. In an era where trailers, interviews, and behind-the-scenes reels routinely reveal major beats, Han argued that spoilers drain the excitement and undercut the audience experience. She described it as a protective measure for the story and the fans who invest in these characters week after week. The move highlights a tricky but common reality in contemporary television: the tension between keeping a finale under wraps and giving viewers a satisfying, earned payoff.

If you were hoping for a definitive, spoiler-free confirmation of the finale, you got it and then some. Han’s candid admission aligns with a broader industry conversation about spoilers and the ethical boundaries of marketing campaigns. Her approach—film fake-out scenes to misdirect—reads like a meta-commentary on the spoiler-hunters who swarm social feeds the moment a production crew is seen in a city like Paris. The practicality of the tactic also makes sense for a show built on adolescence, romance, and complicated family dynamics, where the stakes feel personal to the audience.

Beyond the misdirection, Han dropped a bigger bombshell: a follow-up film is on the horizon after the series wraps, signaling that the universe of Belly, Conrad, and the Fisher clan may continue to spin in new directions. This tease keeps the fan base energized, while the finale’s unexpected twists ensure conversations linger long after the credits roll. What’s next, you ask? Will the rumored film pick up directly from the finale, lampooning the same romantic entanglements, or pivot to an entirely new chapter in this sun-drenched love triangle? The answer remains tantalizingly out there, inviting both speculation and cautious optimism.

In sum, the fake finale scenes were a clever control tactic rather than a genuine misstep. Jenny Han and the cast used a little theatrical misdirection to preserve the surprise, all while signaling there is more to come in a potential follow-up film. The final season delivered on the emotional gravity fans crave while keeping the door firmly ajar for future installments. It’s the kind of stunt that makes you roll your eyes and grin at the same time—which, honestly, is exactly the vibe of this show and its devoted audience. So, yes, the ending was real in the emotional sense, even if the initially glimpsed Parisian moment turned out to be a clever ruse. What will Hollywood’s next clever trick be, and will it work as well as this one did? The clock is ticking, and the speculation train is still rolling.

Anyway, that’s the deal. The real finale is done, the fake-out is admitted, and the franchise still wants to keep us hooked. If this trend continues, we can expect more playful revelations and a few more teases that keep the internet buzzing long after the screen fades to black.

Sources: Celebrity Storm and [TMZ, Entertainment Weekly]
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