Why the ‘Summer I Turned Pretty’ cast isn’t cashing in on season 3’s massive success

Talent sources call the ‘Summer I Turned Pretty’ salary standoff ‘a dangerous precedent’ for young actors

The young stars of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” are set to begin filming the franchise’s feature film followup next month—but without the financial windfall that typically accompanies such a massive hit.

Despite Season 3 of the Prime Video series becoming a global cultural phenomenon, amassing 70 million viewers worldwide within its first 70 days, lead actors Lola Tung, Christopher Briney and Gavin Casalegno were reportedly required to commit to the movie in order to secure their salary increases for the final season.

According to Deadline, the trio—along with co-stars Sean Kaufman and Rain Spencer—negotiated pay bumps heading into Season 3. Sources indicate the leads started in the $35,000–$40,000 per episode range for Season 1, with their Season 3 paychecks landing near $100,000 per episode following renegotiations. However, those raises were contingent on the actors agreeing to star in the movie followup.

Some talent sources claim the actors felt “forced” to accept the modified terms with their raises in jeopardy, signing “under duress.” Sources close to the studio maintain the cast was aligned on the idea.

For the feature film, which begins production April 27 in Wilmington, North Carolina, the actors are reportedly being paid three episodic fees. Following Season 3’s extraordinary success, representatives reportedly reached out about securing salary increases or bonuses for the movie but were rebuffed, with the studios holding the young stars to their existing contracts.

Industry insiders suggest the situation reflects broader belt-tightening across Hollywood, where young actors from hit YA series are struggling to fully capitalize on their shows’ success. One longtime industry insider questioned, “Are we back in a studio system when you own the actors?”

Talent sources have called the situation “a dangerous precedent” for how young actors are treated amid the success of their shows.