The Summer I Turned Pretty Cast Faces Salary Disputes
The cast of The Summer I Turned Pretty reportedly faced significant salary disputes before the production of the highly anticipated feature film adaptation. Based on Jenny Han’s popular book series, the coming-of-age romantic drama first premiered on Prime Video in 2022 and quickly gained a large following.
The story follows Isabel “Belly” Conklin (Lola Tung) as she navigates a complex love triangle with brothers Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) Fisher. The show initially aired for three seasons on the streaming platform, with the feature film serving as a continuation of the narrative.
According to Deadline, several cast members, including Tung, Briney, and Casalegno, as well as Sean Kaufman and Rain Spencer, negotiated for higher salaries ahead of season three. The publication noted that while the first season was successful enough to be renewed, the show remained relatively under the radar at the time, as Prime Video was not yet known for young adult content.
As the show gained more popularity by the second season, the cast renegotiated their contracts with Wiip, the lead studio responsible for making talent deals in coordination with Amazon. According to Deadline, the actors were asked to commit to the movie during advanced or final stages of negotiations. Sources close to the talent reportedly said that some stars were hesitant to sign up, but they were promised salary increases if they agreed to the film.
Despite this, Wiip reportedly held firm, and the actors eventually agreed to participate in the movie. This decision was included in their renegotiated contracts, which led to increased pay for season three. However, talent sources told Deadline that at least some of the actors felt “forced” into accepting these terms, fearing that their raises would be jeopardized if they refused.
While sources close to the studio claimed the actors were “aligned” with the proposal and had agreed to it, there were conflicting accounts about the process. According to Deadline’s sources, the salary increases are estimated to be around $100,000 per episode.
Lola Tung, who plays the lead role, is believed to have earned more than her male co-stars throughout the series. Prime Video has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Lola Tung Shocks Fans with New Look
Last month, lead actress Lola Tung surprised fans with a dramatic goth-inspired look at the South By Southwest Festival. She appeared in a low-cut black lace dress with a slit up one leg, sporting black hair and heavy eyeliner. Fans took to social media to express their surprise, with some commenting, “Hello, how did this happen? From teen to temptress overnight,” and others saying, “I did not at all recognize her.” One fan even compared her to Morticia from The Addams Family.
Tung, who is of Chinese and Swedish descent, is now starring in the new movie Forbidden Fruits alongside Lili Reinhart and Gabrielle Union. The film’s synopsis reads: “At a mall store, Apple leads a secret witch cult with coworkers Cherry and Fig. New hire Pumpkin questions their sisterhood, forcing them to confront inner darkness or meet violent ends.”
Fans are eagerly awaiting the release of the film, which promises to showcase Tung in a different light than her previous roles.
