Exciting buzz surrounds Wilmington as filming kicks off for ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ movie adaptation! Although specific details are limited, this project aims to elevate the local film scene when it hits theaters in 2026. Intriguingly, no official permits have been sighted under the film’s name, leading to whispers of secrecy among industry experts.
‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ movie has reportedly started production in Wilmington, but the shoot has stayed quiet so far. The film, which will continue the hit Prime Video series, is expected to be one of the biggest projects for the city’s film industry in 2026. Still, local records show no filming permits under the ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ name in Wilmington, New Hanover County or Southport. Several people connected to the local film business have also declined to comment on the project’s current status.
‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ movie production in Wilmington
According to multiple published reports, including Production Weekly and Deadline.com, ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ movie was expected to begin production in Wilmington on April 27. The project follows the Prime Video series, which filmed all three seasons in the Wilmington area and became a major hit for the streamer.However, there has been little public sign of the movie shoot in the city. No permits have been filed under the show’s title in Wilmington, New Hanover County or Southport. CineSpace Studios and other local film industry figures have not commented on whether production has begun. Publicists for Amazon Prime Video did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
‘The Exactuals’ becomes major Wilmington film shoot
At present, the largest active film production in the Wilmington area appears to be ‘The Exactuals’. The project has filed several permits for April and May in Wilmington and Southport.The permits list high-profile locations, including Greenfield Lake and the Brooklyn Arts Center. Some filings also list dozens of extras and crew members, with certain scenes calling for 100 or more people. Production contacts listed for ‘The Exactuals’ have not responded to repeated inquiries.‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ filmed its three seasons across Wilmington-area locations, including Casa Blanca coffee shop, The Beer Barrio restaurant and Kilwin’s Ice Cream. Its third season was shot in 2024 and aired in summer 2025.The series starred Lola Tung as Belly, Christopher Briney as Conrad and Gavin Casalegno as Jeremiah. The love triangle drew a large online following and led to debates over Team Conrad and Team Jeremiah.The third season ranked as 2025’s most-watched TV show among women ages 18 to 34. The show is based on Jenny Han’s bestselling book trilogy. Han wrote and directed episodes of the series and served as showrunner and executive producer. According to IMDb, she is set to write and direct the movie.
