On April 22, 2022, Heartstopper’s first season premiered on Netflix, and the landscape of queer young adult media was never the same. Now, three years later to the day, the series’ conclusion has been announced: it won’t end with a fourth season, but a feature-length film.
The Heartstopper movie will be based on creator Alice Oseman’s sixth and final volume of the graphic novel series, which is currently being incrementally released online on sites including Tapas, Webtoon, and Tumblr. It will also take inspiration from her novella Nick and Charlie. Despite the source material not being complete, Oseman revealed in an Instagram post that the script for the movie is already written, and Netflix announced that production will commence this summer, likely leading to a 2026 release date.
The film’s synopsis is as follows: “Nick and Charlie are inseparable, but with Nick preparing to leave for university and Charlie finding new independence at school, the reality of a long-distance relationship begins to weigh on them. Doubts take hold, and their relationship faces its biggest challenge yet. Meanwhile, their friends are also navigating the ups and downs of love and friendship, confronting the bittersweet challenges of growing up and moving on. Can first loves really last forever?”
Entertainment with an edge
Whether you’re into indie comics, groundbreaking music, or queer cinema, we’re here to keep you in the loop.
In a press release, Oseman spoke to her gratitude for the chance to give Heartstopper a conclusion on-screen. “I am completely overjoyed that we will get to tell the end of the Heartstopper story,” she said. “I’m so grateful to everyone who has worked hard to make this possible and to the incredible fans of Heartstopper for your patience and passion. I cannot wait to bring this story to a magical conclusion.”
Related
“He’s obviously become one of my closest friends,” Connor said of his ‘Heartstopper’ co-star.
“I’d take my shirt off and see camera flashes from the audience,” Connor said. “There was something quite seedy about that.”
Meanwhile, fans are equally hyped over another production detail: lead actors Joe Locke and Kit Connor will not only star as Charlie and Nick, but will executive produce the movie, marking both actors’ first time in a production role.
And though Connor has already been in a few films, the Heartstopper movie will be Locke’s film debut. Fans gushed over the full-circle moment: Heartstopper was Locke’s first-ever project as an actor, and now it will be his first-ever movie, too.
The news, of course, is bittersweet. Heartstopper is officially ending, meaning the next time fans lay eyes on its characters will also be the last. But above all, the fandom is overjoyed that Season 3 wasn’t the end as some had feared. Instead, Nick, Charlie, and all their friends will get the ending that such a revolutionary story deserves.
Sign up for the INTO newsletter and get your twice-weekly dose of stories that shape the queer experience, culture, and lifestyle.
