The Summer I Turned Pretty: Jenny Han Teases a Big Milestone That Could Redefine Belly and Conrad’s Story

Jaden Patel with a deadpan grin here: the summer saga continues, and yes, there is a milestone brewing hotter than a Cousins Beach sunset. After The Summer I Turned Pretty wrapped its third season on Prime Video and the movie follow-up was confirmed, author and showrunner Jenny Han dropped a teaser that sounds like a spoiler and a dare in one. The gist: Belly Conklin and Conrad Fisher have more drama left to unpack on the big screen, and this time the tease hints at a “big milestone” that could reshape their romance arc even more than the finale already did. So, grab your sunscreen and a notepad because this is where fan theories start getting their own fan theories.

The TV finale brought a long-awaited gridlock of fate for Belly (Lola Tung) and Conrad (Chris Briney). After years of push and pull, Paris provided a romantic rendezvous that finally sealed the couple’s fate in the story’s live-action conclusion, at least as far as the show is concerned. Yet the film adaptation, which was confirmed promptly after the finale aired, is not in the fine print yet. Jenny Han appeared on Today with the show’s stars, delivering the kind of tease that fans will parse for months: there is “another big milestone for Belly,” she said, and the project is moving along, albeit not on a timetable anyone can declare as gospel. She did acknowledge that she has “finished a draft” and that the production is still “chugging along.” Translation: the writers are moving pieces, but the wedding bells, if they ring, will ring on the big screen rather than immediately on the small one.

What does this mean for fans who loved the book-verse and the show’s adjustments? The third season repositioned some relationships and timelines, like shifting Belly’s college arc to reflect a junior-year finish rather than a straight freshman leap. The screen adaptation is clearly taking its own route here, and Jenny Han’s comment underscores that the film will not be a neat, by-the-book conclusion. It’s more of a promise that Belly’s journey is still expanding, and that the movie is the place where the most consequential next steps will land. In practical terms, fans will have to practice restraint because Han said the film’s specifics are not fully pinned down, and she cautioned that it’s not going to be coming next year. So, the wait is real, and the anticipation is meticulously cultivated.

Meanwhile, the cast nodded to the enduring appeal of these characters. Chris Briney acknowledged that the ending was a deliberate choice that aligned with what he read in the books, and the actor confessed that he always suspected this outcome from the moment he joined the project. Gavin Casalegno spoke about the surreality of seeing fans loyally champion his character’s arc, even if Jeremiah didn’t land Belly in the end. Lola Tung hinted that her character’s path will unfold in surprising ways once the film finally hits the world, and she confirmed that the project has been in the works for a while, finally stepping out into public awareness. All of this confirms that the film is less about wrapping up loose ends and more about expanding the universe with Belly and Conrad’s evolving dynamic, while Jeremiah remains a standalone favorite for a sizeable chunk of the fan base.

The original book-to-show deviations remain a point of interest, with fans parsing what changes mean for the cinematic adaptation. The show ended with Belly and Conrad together in a Parisian moment, but the movie’s scope could expand on milestones beyond a wedding, possibly revisiting the way these characters navigate loyalty, memory, and growing up under a summer sun that never quite ends.

If you’re keeping score at Cousins Beach, yes, there is a glimmering line of future scenes that could alter the beloved love triangle’s trajectory. The “big milestone” tease signals drama, romance, and a cinematic scale that could redefine how Belly and Conrad’s relationship is remembered on screen. So, what should fans watch for next? Expect hints to creep out in interviews, and if you’re the type who tracks every breadcrumb, you’ll want to pore over Jenny Han’s words for any timetable crumbs and every cast member’s posture in the Today appearance.

And yes, the suspense remains deliciously intact. The summer may be over on TV, but the movie promises a season of its own, with a milestone that could change the dynamic more than a sudden plot twist ever could. The clock is ticking, the cameras are rolling, and the fans are ready to spill more tea than any beachside cooler can hold.

What to watch next: how the film will reinterpret Belly’s coming-of-age milestones and whether the long-awaited wedding—or another seismic moment—will anchor the final act in a way no one predicted. The summer may have cooled, but the anticipation is hotter than a heatwave on Cousins Beach.

Sources: Celebrity Storm and [E! News, Today Show, Deadline, Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter]
Attribution: File:Chinese New Year (Year Of The Rabbit) – Dublin (5418975668).jpg — William Murphy from Dublin, Ireland (CC BY-SA 2.0) (OV)