Netflix Releases First Image from 'Heartstopper's Feature Film Set

Most cultural critics measure the current moment in our streaming landscape dating from one of two significant milestones: the CBS lawsuit against YouTube and the launch of Hulu circa 2006-2007, or Netflix's launch of House of Cards Season 1 in February 2013. I want to add another: The 2021 announcement that Netflix had picked up See-Saw Film's planned adaptation of Alice Osman's queer love story, Heartstopper, after the stunning success of Bridgerton Season 1 over the 2020 holiday season. 

The LGBTQ+ love story, which began as an online comic on Tumblr, was not typical adaptation material. The comic dealt with homophobia and eating disorders, fueled by deeply felt angst, and was primarily aimed at a specific subset of teen and twenty-something fangirls, but found instant success by willingly following the source material without softening its edges. Main stars Joe Locke and Kit Connor, as teen lovebirds Charlie and Nick, have become household names and have gone on to star in other high-profile projects, such as Agatha All Along and Warfare, respectively. Meanwhile, co-star Yasmin Finney is now a regular on Doctor Who.

Between the actors moving on to adult-level careers and the series running up on the comic's final installment, Netflix made the call to wrap the story up with a single feature-length film. TV shows can take six months to a year to film, whereas a movie typically takes around six weeks, making the latter much easier to reassemble a cast for production. This allows the series more post-production time and ensures the final installment has the opportunity to wrap up all threads. 

Here's the film's synopsis:

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. Meanwhile, their friends are also navigating the ups and downs of love and friendship, confronting the bittersweet challenges of growing up and moving on. Can first loves really last forever?

The cast of the Heartstopper movie has yet to be revealed beyond Connor and Locke. However, both lead actors are also executive producing the film (a first for them), which is a sign that Netflix was very serious about getting them to return. It is therefore a pretty safe bet that the series' regular co-stars — Finney (Elle), William Gao (Tao), Corinna Brown (Tara), and Kizzy Edgell (Darcy) — will make deals to return as well.

Author Oseman penned the film, adapted from her forthcoming final volume. Director Wash Westmoreland (Still Alice) steps in to direct, replacing Euros Lyn, who helmed all three seasons of the series. Oseman and Lyn join Connor and Locke in executive producing, alongside Patrick Walters, Iain Canning, and Emile Sherman.

The Heartstopper movie is expected to arrive on Netflix in 2026.