The finale of The Summer I Turned Pretty has finally arrived on Prime Video, and it is an incredibly bittersweet feeling. After three seasons, infinity necklaces, arguments and kisses on the beach, we're finally getting the answer to who Belly, played by Lola Tung, ends up with. One question that fans are still asking, however, is if there is going to be a Summer I Turned Pretty spin-off.
The answer: yes! Jenny Han confirmed on Wednesday, Sept. 17, that Belly's story will continue in The Summer I Turned Pretty: The Movie.
Shocked? Well, to be fair to Jenny, she's been dropping clues that a potential continuation or spin-off was coming for a while. She even teased it in the series finale credits! Need a recap? Here's all the evidence for a Summer I Turned Pretty spin-off:
Jenny Han teases a spin-off in her finale letter to fans.
Jenny Han, the showrunner and author of the original book series, left the door open for a potential spin-off by ending the series finale with a personal letter thanking fans for their support. And she ended the heartfelt note with a tease: “We put our whole hearts into this show and we're so thankful to you for coming along with us on the ride. Maybe we'll meet again one summer in Cousins.”
Clearly, there is a possibility that fans might get to see more of the story, the question is—what story? Based on Jenny's wording, it sounds like she might be considering a spin-off that takes place in Cousins, but not necessarily one that continues Belly's story.
Jenny has previously spoken about a potential spin-off and is not against doing something else with the show. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Han said: “Never say never—I never do. If the story is there, then I'm there. As a storyteller, you just get hit with inspiration all the time. If I had a really great idea that I was excited by, that I wanted to keep telling the story, and if [the stars] were excited to do it, then I would be so pumped. It really depends on if I feel like there is more story to tell.”
Sounds promising to us 👀.
Lola Tung is also down for a spin-off.
It wouldn't be TSITP without Belly and actor Lola Tung, who also told Entertainment Weekly that she would be happy to come back for the role. “I love working with this group of people and I love working with Jenny,” she explained. “I think it's such a privilege to be any part of her cinematic universe, so if I was ever asked, I'm there.”
Jenny Han has made spin-offs before.
TSITP isn't the first project of Jenny Han's to be adapted for the small screen, with the novel series To All The Boys I've Loved Before getting turned into three films for Netflix.
After the movie series wrapped up, Jenny moved on to a spin-off series, XO, Kitty, all about main character Lara Jean's younger sister Kitty's time in South Korea.
The TV series has now released two seasons and done incredibly well, so we know there is an appetite for spin-off series and they can work.
Prime Video is on board for more TSITP.
Of course the show doesn't exist in isolation and any further shows would need to get the Prime Video seal of approval, but thankfully the studio sounds very open to future projects.
Speaking to Variety in July earlier this year Vernon Sanders, Amazon MGM Studios head of TV, said they would start discussing ideas with Jenny once the series was over.
“You know, all plans lead with Jenny Han, and she’s known from the beginning, how she’s wanted to do this, so we’ve been focused on this, getting the season right and ending it the right way,” he revealed. “And I think once the full thing is released, we’ll be able to have more conversations with her. She’s got new ideas that she’s been dying to tackle. So whatever Jenny wants to do, we want to do it with her.”
Well the season is officially over now, so it's time to get those conversations rolling please Prime Video.
Sanders previously told Deadline in 2023 that Amazon was already developing more TSITP content, though he kept it vague. “This show is going to continue to be a huge centerpiece for us, and we absolutely have plans to continue building it,” he said at the time. “Jenny’s got great vision for where she wants to go with all of it, but we’re already hard at work developing complementary pieces… I will say, stay tuned, but Jenny’s got some exciting surprises. So we’re thrilled about a season three, and she’s got a vision for more.”
Ok, so...that's an unofficial yes on a spin-off? It's what Belly would want.
