In case you weren’t Team Conrad already, Christopher Briney‘s first role after The Summer I Turned Pretty — on Hacks — will have you switching sides.
HBO confirmed on Thursday, October 9, that Briney, 27, has been added to the cast of season 5, which is currently in production. The first-look photo teased Briney’s mystery character rocking several tattoos and a very stylish fit alongside Jean Smart‘s Deborah Vance.
Hacks is Briney’s second TV role, which comes fresh off his run as Conrad on The Summer I Turned Pretty. The Prime Video series, which is based on Jenny Han’s book series, followed the love triangle between Belly (Lola Tung) and the Fisher brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno). The Summer I Turned Pretty, It’s Not Summer Without You and We’ll Always Have Summer served as inspiration for the show’s three seasons.
“It’s been really cool to see people rally around this world and have their different opinions and theories. I try my best to stay away from it all and let them have their fun,” Briney told Harper’s Bazaar last month. “I do my job, and then you put it out there and let people [think what they think]. But from what I’ve heard, people have been very supportive of Conrad, which is great. I have played him [this season] as if it was him getting what he finally earns. He earns his moment by the end.”
While viewers were expecting the series to end after season 3, Prime Video announced in September that there will be a movie to wrap up the story.
“The Summer I Turned Pretty has struck a chord with audiences everywhere, creating moments of joy, nostalgia and connection that have made it a global sensation,” Courtenay Valenti, who is head of film, streaming and theatrical at Amazon MGM Studios, and Vernon Sanders, who is global head of television at Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, shared in a statement at the time. “We’re proud of the series’ extraordinary success and couldn’t be more excited to partner again with Jenny Han to bring fans an unforgettable next chapter.”
In addition to The Summer I Turned Pretty, Briney has appeared in films Dalíland and Mean Girls. He has also done voiceover work for several audiobooks.
Briney previously addressed being called a heartthrob, telling InStyle in January 2024, “That’s ridiculous. I consider myself a stupid f***ing idiot. I have that written on my mirror.”
More recently, Briney teased his upcoming work.
“I am sort of in a weird period where I’m privileged enough to be able to be picky right now about what I decide to take on next,” he told Harper’s Bazaar last month. “People are making a lot of cool stuff, and there are a lot of cool artists, and I have nothing to announce yet, but I’m excited to get to work and explore something [new soon].”
He continued: “It’s the biggest privilege as an actor [to be picky], really. I know I’m very lucky in that.”
The first four seasons of Hacks are currently streaming on HBO Max.