There’s lastly information for Heartstopper followers who’ve been patiently ready to be taught the destiny of their present for greater than six months. It will not be precisely what they had been hoping for (Season 4), however it’s excellent news however: extra Heartstopper is on the way in which, and Nick and Charlie’s story will get a correct ending.
Netflix has greenlighted a Heartstopper film, starring and govt produced by the sequence’ leads Joe Locke and Equipment Connor and directed by Wash Westmoreland (Nonetheless Alice, Colette), which is able to function a sequence finale. The announcement was made on the third anniversary of Heartstopper‘s April 22, 2002 sequence premiere.
Heartstopper creator Alice Oseman, on whose graphic books the coming-of-age romantic sequence was based mostly, is again as author of the function movie, which is able to draw from the upcoming sixth and closing quantity of the graphic novel. (Season 1 lined Vol. 1-2, Season 2 was based mostly on Vol. 3, and Season 4 adopted Vol. 4 and 5.)
There isn’t a publish date but for Vol. 6, which continues to be being written. Oseman has indicated that ideally, the final e book would drop forward of the TV sequence’ conclusion.
Within the Heartsopper finale, Nick (Connor) and Charlie (Locke) are inseparable, however with Nick making ready to depart for college and Charlie discovering new independence at college, the truth of a long-distance relationship begins to weigh on them. Doubts take maintain, and their relationship faces its largest problem but. In the meantime, their buddies are additionally navigating the ups and downs of affection and friendship, confronting the bittersweet challenges of rising up and shifting on. Can first loves actually final ceaselessly?
Westmoreland, who has an intensive function background, succeeds Euros Lyn, who directed the primary two seasons of Heartstopper, and Andy Newbery, who helmed Season 3.
Locke and Connor be part of the chief producer ranks of the film alongside Oseman, Lyn, Patrick Walters, Iain Canning and Emile Sherman who all served as govt producers on the primary three seasons. See-Noticed Movies is again as manufacturing firm. Filming is slated to start in summer season 2025.
“I’m fully overjoyed that we are going to get to inform the top of the Heartstopper story,” Oseman mentioned. “I’m so grateful to everybody who has labored onerous to make this potential and to the unimaginable followers of Heartstopper to your endurance and fervour. I can’t wait to deliver this story to a magical conclusion.”
Whereas uncommon, a film sequence finale just isn’t unprecedented – in 2017, Netflix commissioned a Sense8 movie following backlash from followers when the streamer canceled the Wachowskis’ sci-fi drama after two seasons on a cliffhanger. Different exhibits given a film conclusion by their networks embrace Timeless (NBC), CSI (CBS) and Deadwood (HBO).
Like most of them, Heartstopper discovered itself on the bubble after its third season drew 10.9 million views from its October 3 launch till the top of 2024, down about 30% from the views Season 2 had garnered over the identical interval. Season 3 spent two weeks in Netflix’s international Prime 10, peaking at No. 4, vs. three weeks every for Seasons 1 and a pair of, the latter peaking at No. 2.
Nonetheless, during the last six months of 2024, the primary two seasons of Heartstopper added mixed 8.8M views, displaying persevering with curiosity within the title on the platform.
What’s extra, Season 3 was as properly reviewed because the earlier ones, nabbing one other 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and continued to maintain the sequence culturally related by tackling necessary points, on this case psychological well being.
Most of all, it was Heartstopper‘s outsized affect throughout TV, social media, music and books and its legacy of LGBTQ+ illustration that made the case for the present to get a correct ending even when the Season 3 viewership didn’t fairly help a full-blown fourth and closing season.
(L-R) Equipment Connor and Joe Locke star in ‘Heartstopper’
Netflix
The film greenlight follows tireless efforts by the sequence’ inventive crew.
“I’m working very onerous behind the scenes to get us a renewal for Heartstopper… there are such a lot of folks behind the scenes who’re working actually onerous to make it occur,” Oseman mentioned in February. “We’re feeling optimistic, we’re feeling hopeful.”
A month later, Walters mentioned that “there are many shifting components” on a possible renewal and “we’re working onerous on it.”
One of many many shifting components was probably making new offers with Connor and Locke, who reportedly not had choices. Little recognized after they had been solid in Heartstopper, the duo at the moment are in-demand actors with busy schedules coming off starring roles within the film Warfare (Connor) and Disney+’s Agatha All Alongside (Locke).
However, similar to the solid of Euphoria lately reassembled for a closing season, Connor and Locke had been keen to return to the sequence that made them stars.
“I’d positively love to do it so long as it’s finished proper,” Connor lately mentioned. “I simply need to ensure that we hold the guts in it. So, we’re engaged on one thing, and hopefully we’re making it occur.”
