'Heartstopper' to End with a Movie Instead of Season 4

Word has finally arrived as to what the future hold for the Netflix hit "Heartstopper" – namely, a feature film that will be based on the last of the graphic novels and tie up the show's storylines.

The Netflix series is based on a popular series of graphic novels by Alice Oseman and centers around a diverse group of teenage friends in England. One character is trans with a heterosexual and cisgender boyfriend; another is asexual; a lesbian couple round out the friend group. But at its core, the ensemble features two young men in love, one of them gay (Charlie, played by Joe Locke) and the other bisexual (Nick, played by Kit Connor).

The show eschews graphic content and shatters myths and stereotypes, choosing instead to dive deeply into a sympathetic – and realistic – portrayal of young people navigating romantic relationships and exploring their own identities.

Oseman "is back as writer of the feature film, which will draw from the upcoming sixth and final volume of the graphic novel," Deadline reported, before adding that Locke and Connor will executive produce the film, which is slated to be directed by Wash Westmoreland.

The news arrives more than half a year after the premiere of the show's third season, which saw Charlie and Nick separated while Charlie undergoes psychiatric treatment for an eating disorder.

Like other high-profile properties derived from in-progress, unfinished literary sources – such as "Game of Thrones" – the film version may or may not resemble the conclusion of its source material. Oseman has not yet completed the final volume of her popular graphic novels.

Even so, the timing of the news is significant. "The announcement was made on the third anniversary of 'Heartstopper's' April 22, 2002 series premiere," Deadline noted.

Deadline explained that the show's first season was based on the first two volumes of the graphic novels, while the second season adapted Vol. 3. The third (and most recent) season brought the fourth and fifth volumes to life. Deadline relayed that Oseman has expressed a preference for the movie adaptation of Vol. 6 to come after the graphic novels wrap up, but a press release from Netflix said that production on the movie is expected to commence this summer.

The Netflix release did spill some tea about the film's storyline, though. "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," the release teased.

"Meanwhile, their friends are also navigating the ups and downs of love and friendship, confronting the bittersweet challenges of growing up and moving on."

The decision to end the series with a film comes after the series shed viewers over the course of its run. Initially an overnight global sensation, the show "found itself on the bubble after its third season drew 10.9 million views from its October 3 release until the end of 2024, down about 30% from the views Season 2 had garnered over the same period," Deadline detailed. However, the series still has a devoted fan base.

Another uncertainty regarding a fourth season was the availability of breakout stars Locke and Connor, whose careers have both exploded since the show's inaugural season.

"While rare, a movie series finale is not unprecedented," the outlet noted, recalling how shows like Netflix's "Sense8" and HBO's "Deadwood" had been finished up with films rather than new seasons. A similar valediction tied up the storylines set up in two seasons of the HBO queer dramedy "Looking," when the cast – including Jonathan Groff and Murray Bartlett – returned for a movie sendoff of the show.

Oseman declared herself "overjoyed" to have the chance "to tell the end of the 'Heartstopper' story," adding: "I cannot wait to bring this story to a magical conclusion."