One of Netflix’s most prolific shows is officially coming to it’s end, but as a movie.
HEARTSTOPPER, the LGBTQIA+ series which we call ‘one of the loveliest shows around‘ based on Alice Oseman’s novellas took the world by storm 3 years ago, when it’s first adapted season exploded on Netflix, quickly becoming one of it’s most talked about projects in an impressively short time. After an initial double-renewal, things seemed uncertain for the series’ future amongst an overhaul in creatives & executives at it’s home streamer, I was personally told for some time, it was on the brink of possibly never seeing its ending told but fortunately, though initial plans of a fourth, which would’ve been its final, season was in development, the angels have heard the outcry for more & it’s been made public a movie will instead close the story of the much adored Nick and Charlie, played respectively by the outstanding dynamic duo of Kit Connor [Warfare] and Joe Locke [Agatha: All Along].
The film, which I believe the vast majority of the show’s cast will return for, Olivia Colman included [in a minor role] is set to roll cameras in the UK, June 2025 & across the summer. If timelines of the series’ previous full, eight-length long seasons are to go by, it’s fair to believe HEARTSTOPPER, code named ‘SUNBEAM‘, as a nod to the love language of the lead characters, will look to eye & make a Mid-Late 2026 release as the turnaround has often been remarkably short, never at the loss of quality. Another good thing? The script is already complete with pre-production more than underway for some time now.
The official synopsis from Netflix Tudum, which affirms the story’s pickup from the final seasons ending, reads as follows…“The couple (Nick & Charlie) is 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.“
When speaking on the comforting renewal, Alice Oseman posted…“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.”
Some personal speculation, possible titles I’d be more than happy to see include ‘HEARTSTOPPER: Nick & Charlie’, ‘HEARTSTOPPER: Love Lasts Forever’ or, simply put, ‘HEARTSTOPPER’. But whatever they go for, fans should be incredibly grateful for this final ‘bye’ as so many shows, especially from Netflix, never see such & a dark fate may have been closer than it’ll ever likely be revealed publicly.
The untitled ‘HEARTSTOPPER‘ movie is written by Alice Oseman & directed by Wash Westmoreland (Still Alice), starring first-time executive producers, Kit Connor & Joe Locke.
