Say it isn’t so! Fans must now say “hi” to Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring one last time. Netflix’s hit LGBTQ+ young adult romance series Heartstopper is concluding with a feature film, Heartstopper Forever. This finale event premiered Friday, July 17th.
For those unaware, Heartstopper–which debuted on Netflix in 2022--follows British high school students Charlie (played by Joe Locke) and Nick (Kit Connor), whose friendship at Truham Grammar School develops into a romantic relationship. The more sensitive Charlie initially contends with bullying and the effects of a secret relationship with another male student, while popular, athletic Nick begins to question his sexual orientation. Their story unfolds alongside those of their friends Tao Xu, transgender Elle Argent, and Isaac Henderson, as well as Higgs Girls School students Tara Jones and Darcy Olsson. Their wider friendship group navigates changing relationships, identity and coming out throughout the series.
As these characters (and actors) have grown older, the
series has expanded to explore mental health, intimacy and the uncertainties of
early adulthood. Storylines include Nick's gradual coming out as bisexual, Charlie's treatment
for anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder,
Tao and Elle's developing relationship, Isaac's understanding of himself
as aromantic and asexual, and Darcy's exploration
of their non-binary identity.
These have served as timely reflections of what many real-life Gen Z teens and
young adults are going through, despite familial and political pressure to
conform.
The series finale film was written by Heartstopper creator, executive producer and graphic novelist Alice Oseman (who also reportedly identifies as aromantic and asexual). Lead actors and rising stage & screen stars Kit Connor and Joe Locke are serving as executive producers for the first time. “These characters have meant a lot to us over the years,” Connor says. “As EPs, it feels like we can really say goodbye to them in a way that feels the most right. It is bittersweet, but it is also a really nice way of ending it.” Locke agrees, adding “This show has meant so much to me in my life. I’ll always carry that with me.”
Heartstopper Forever, which was directed by gay filmmaker Wash Westmoreland, picks up after Season 3’s swoon-inducing conclusion that saw Nick, Charlie, and many of their friends take their relationships to a new level. “The movie will be an exploration of time, memory, love, pain, the changing of the seasons, endings and beginnings, and the core element of Heartstopper: the ordinary magic of our everyday lives,” Oseman says. It will also reportedly ask the question "Can first loves really last forever?”
The finale—which creator-writer Oseman calls “dramatic and exciting”—will wrap up Nick and Charlie’s journey. At the end of Season 3, the young same-sex couple was seemingly 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, Nick and Charlie’s friends are also navigating the ups and downs of love and friendship, confronting the bittersweet challenges of growing up and moving on.
Unfortunately, the finale movie’s producers and cast members weren’t available for interviews before Reverend's deadline for the July issue of Rage Magazine, but Netflix made an interview with Heartstopper creator Alice Oseman available. Here are some excerpts:
Nick, Charlie, and all their friends’ stories are
about to come to an end onscreen. What do you hope to accomplish with the movie?
Alice Oseman: On a basic level, of course, I want
the movie to be a beautiful and emotional send-off for the Heartstopper
story — celebrating what Heartstopper means to people, while offering a
chance to say goodbye to our beloved characters, and many hints of what’s to
come in the characters’ future lives.
On a slightly deeper level, I think this movie will explore what makes love survive, or what elevates it, or deepens it. At 18 and 17, Nick and Charlie are hurtling towards their adult lives. Many teenage relationships don’t survive that pivotal moment of change. Are Nick and Charlie a forever love? If they are, why? I want the movie to capture this transitional moment for them as a couple — from teens to adults, from teen romance to forever love, from past to future. And in doing so, get to the heart of what teenage love can become as adolescence becomes a memory, and what teenage love can mean for people in the overall picture of their lives. An exploration of time, memory, love, pain, the changing of the seasons, endings and beginnings, and the core element of Heartstopper: the ordinary magic of our everyday lives.
What does it mean to you to see all the positive fan
responses to the news?
Oseman: The excitement and joy from Heartstopper fans is such a huge part of why we are still able to tell this story, years later. I’m so grateful to have such a passionate, supportive audience. I always have so much fun interacting with the Heartstopper community. I was pretty nervous about this announcement, but I shouldn’t have been, because the response has been amazing! I’ve always felt so much warmth and positivity from the Heartstopper community, and I’m so, so thankful for that.
What do you have to say to fans who are surprised Heartstopper
is ending with a movie instead of another season?
I totally understand if fans are a little apprehensive.
It’s a big change from what we know. It’s something new and unknown, and yes,
the runtime will be less than a TV season. Even I needed some time to
process and come to terms with the change. But once I began to see the entire
vision, I knew it would be something even more beautiful than a regular season
could achieve. We are feeling very ambitious about what is possible in a movie
format. With no need for end-of-episode cliffhangers or a new twist every
episode, every part of Heartstopper can be elevated to a higher quality
to create something memorable, sophisticated, and atmospheric.
The last time we saw the characters, they were all taking new steps in their relationships and lives, from exploring physical intimacy to university prep. What can you say is ahead for them as they mature?
Oseman: The most pressing issue for Nick and
Charlie, as we know from the end of Season 3, is that Nick will soon be leaving
for university, effectively making Nick and Charlie a long-distance couple. For
a teenage relationship, this is a pretty huge hurdle to overcome. Each of them
has some conflicting feelings about this development. Nick isn’t sure who he is
without Charlie, and Charlie is nervous about being left behind. They have some
work to do — both on their relationship and individually.
Heartstopper’s other protagonists are facing similar conundrums about their futures. Because it’s not just the relationships that are being pulled in different directions, but the friendships too. I don’t want to tease too much more yet.
The movie will be based on your upcoming sixth and
final Heartstopper graphic novel. What can you tell us about that
yet-to-be-released book?
Oseman: When I started planning this final book, I told myself I was allowed to include anything and everything I’d always wanted to explore with these characters. I’m proud to say that’s what I’ve been doing. Among many things, it explores Charlie finding a new sense of confidence and independence, and healing from some of his old demons. Meanwhile, Nick has a bit of a crisis about his future, influenced by memories of his past.
Are there any characters or storylines you want to
tease for now?
Oseman: I’ve been uploading the Heartstopper
Volume 6 comics free-to-read on their usual webcomic platform, if you’d
rather not wait for the book publication. So, if you’re looking for hints about
what might happen in the movie, I’d recommend checking those out. Of course, there
will be some tweaks for the movie, as there always are in adaptations…but I’ll
leave those a surprise for now.
Oseman concludes the interview with this: “I am completely overjoyed that we will get to tell the end of the Heartstopper story. 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.”
All is now being revealed on Netflix.
The Most Reverend Chris Carpenter is editor of Movie Dearest and chief contributor. He has been reviewing movies and theatre since 1996 and also contributes to Rage Monthly magazine (ragemonthly.com). He is a founding member and former Vice President of GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Critics (galeca.com) and currently serves as a nominating/voting member of its New York-based Theatre Wing. Reverend Carpenter has been an ordained minister since 1995.
