Hollywood East Secures Another Major Production
Rising star Lola Tung continues to dominate entertainment headlines this year. Fresh off the announcement that she is joining Connor Storrie and Gracie Abrams in Halina Reijn’s highly anticipated A24 film ‘Please’, Tung is currently on location in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is back on the East Coast filming the feature-length movie continuation of the hit Amazon Prime series ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’. While details of her upcoming A24 venture remain tightly under wraps, her presence in Wilmington is already creating waves in the local tourism sector.
For international travelers and devoted fans of the Jenny Han adaptation, the ongoing movie production renews global interest in the coastal North Carolina city. Long affectionately known as “Wilmywood” or “Hollywood East,” Wilmington has a storied history of doubling as iconic fictional towns, previously hosting iconic teen dramas like ‘Dawson’s Creek’ and ‘One Tree Hill’. Now, it stands proudly as the real-life equivalent of the idyllic, fictional Cousins Beach.
Exploring the Real Cousins Beach
While Cousins Beach exists only in the pages of Han’s novels and on the screen, the golden sands and quaint coastal aesthetics are very much real. To bring the story to life, location scouts selected a cluster of visually striking North Carolina spots, primarily focusing on Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach.
For travelers eager to experience the romance and nostalgia of the series firsthand, these beach towns offer the perfect itinerary. Visitors can cycle through quiet coastal neighborhoods, explore local boardwalks, and visit the actual cafes and country clubs used during the shoot. Travel experts frequently point out that while the series highlights the peak of summer, visiting Wilmington in the autumn months is highly recommended. The off-season provides calmer waters, zero crowds, and a more intimate experience of the filming locations.
The Measurable Impact of Set-Jetting
The intersection of pop culture and travel—often referred to as “set-jetting”—has brought substantial economic benefits to the region. The production of ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ is not just a cultural phenomenon; it is a massive financial engine for North Carolina. Recent state data highlights that over 500 local small businesses have been utilized as vendors for the franchise’s production alone.
Furthermore, the broader film and entertainment grants in North Carolina have recently supported projects that inject an estimated $131.6 million into the state’s economy, creating thousands of jobs. Wilmington’s infrastructure is specifically tailored to support this, anchored by Cinespace Wilmington, which houses the third-largest sound stage in the United States and the largest special-effects water tank in North America. This robust industrial backing ensures that the city remains a cinematic hotspot, seamlessly blending heavy-duty movie production with laid-back beach tourism.
Future Predictions for Coastal Tourism
As production wraps on the feature-length continuation later this year, Wilmington is bracing for a massive tourism surge. The eventual premiere of the movie is expected to trigger a new wave of international fans making the pilgrimage to Cousins Beach. Local hospitality sectors, including boutique hotels, houseboat rentals, and coastal restaurants, are projected to see a sharp increase in advanced bookings for the upcoming 2027 travel season.
For travel enthusiasts reading whereisthatplace, the forecast is clear: the window to experience Wilmington’s coastal charm without overwhelming crowds is narrowing. Getting ahead of the upcoming movie release means booking travel plans now. As Lola Tung and the rest of the cast bring the final chapter of this beloved story to a close, Wilmington will undoubtedly solidify its status as one of the premier beach-town destinations in the United States.
