The Summer I Turned Pretty's Lola Tung on Taylor Swift’s music becoming the show's heart: She’s an incredible storyteller

The Summer I Turned Pretty's eagerly anticipated third season will debut on Prime Video on July 16 with a two-episode premiere.

Based on Jenny Han’s bestselling novels, The Summer I Turned Pretty on Prime Video has not only captivated viewers with its coming-of-age narrative but has also elevated Taylor Swift’s music into a near-character within the series.

Swift’s songs are intricately woven into the fabric of the show, mirroring themes of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery.

As the global premiere of the final season draws near, the lead cast opens up about the emotional weight Swift’s music carries in the storytelling and reveals their personal favourite song moments—offering fans an intimate peek into the show's deeply curated soundtrack.

Lola Tung, who portrays the beloved Belly, reflects on how seamlessly Swift’s music has become a vital part of the narrative experience. She said, “She’s an incredible storyteller, just like Jenny. So it felt very fitting. I think for Jenny, she has a personal connection. When she was writing a lot of the books, she was listening to some of this music, like The Way I Loved You. So, for her, she’s had these in mind for so long. Obviously, not all of these albums were out yet, but it helped her shape the world.”

She further added, “There are so many incredible needle drops. From the first two seasons, The Way I Loved You is a classic. I have to say, though, the trailer songs like the teaser that just came out as well. I remember when Jenny told me what she was doing with that, from Daylight into Red, and I was like, ‘Oh My God, nobody’s ever gonna expect this.’ It’s so genius, and it’s so perfect.”

Reflecting Tung’s thoughts, Christopher Briney stated, “Very thoroughly planned and thought out. It’s part of the vision.” Gavin Casalegno also weighs in and praises Han’s ability to curate the perfect soundtrack, highlighting, “I think Jenny does a great job at finding the perfect music for the world. Like with all of Taylor’s music, I think she really does a deep dive into what’s going to fit the world and the feel of all these things. We don’t even know all the songs that are going to be in the next season.”

The Summer I Turned Pretty's eagerly anticipated third season will debut on Prime Video on July 16 with a two-episode premiere.

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New episodes will air every Thursday until September 17. English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada are among the languages in which the coming-of-age romance drama is available.

The season is produced by Amazon MGM Studios in association with wiip and is directed by showrunners Jenny Han and Sarah Kucserka. In addition to Paul Lee, Hope Hartman, and Mads Hansen for wiip, executive producers include Han, Kucserka, and Karen Rosenfelt. Lola Tung, Christopher Briney, Gavin Casalegno, Sean Kaufman, Jackie Chung, and Rachel Blanchard are among the series' outstanding cast members.