Alice Oseman has shared exciting new details about the upcoming Heartstopper film, describing it as “a big change from what we know” as it replaces a fourth season of the beloved series.
Production company See-Saw Films recently announced that Nick Nelson (played by Kit Connor) and Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) will see their love story concluded through a feature film, rather than another series. Netflix confirmed the news on social media, stating, “Heartstopper will return, bigger than ever. A Heartstopper movie, our final chapter based on Alice Oseman’s upcoming volume six, is coming.”
Speaking with Netflix’s Tudum, Oseman, who uses she/they pronouns, explained that the film will “wrap up Nick and Charlie’s journey.”
“After Season 3, the couple is inseparable. But, with Nick preparing for university and Charlie finding independence at school, the reality of a long-distance relationship begins to weigh on them. Doubts arise, and their relationship faces its biggest challenge yet,” Oseman said.
They added that beyond creating “a beautiful and emotional send-off for the Heartstopper story,” the film will explore deeper themes around enduring love. “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?”
Oseman continued, “I want the movie to capture this transitional moment for them — from teens to adults, from teen romance to forever love, from past to future. It’s about what teenage love can become as adolescence fades into memory, and what it can mean in the bigger picture of a person’s life.”
Acknowledging that some fans may feel uncertain about the shift from series to film, Oseman shared, “It’s something totally 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.”
Without the constraints of episodic cliff-hangers or twists, Oseman believes the film can deliver a higher quality, more atmospheric experience: “Every part of Heartstopper can be elevated to create something memorable and sophisticated.”
Writing for the film has gone through “several drafts,” and Oseman is collaborating closely with director Wash Westmoreland and the production team on final refinements before pre-production officially begins. Stars Kit Connor and Joe Locke will also serve as executive producers, ensuring the final chapter stays true to the spirit of the series.
