The New 'Heartstopper' Season 3 Trailer Gets Serious About Being Sixteen

Being a teenager has never been easy, no matter when you were born. Those final years of high school are when you're sure you're an adult in your head, but emotionally, you're still working on getting there. Everything that happens feels like it's all-encompassing, whether it's falling in love, deciding what path to take after graduation, or dealing with mental health issues. Netflix's LGBTQ+ coming-of-age story, Heartstopper, has been a critically lauded success for its ability to capture all that, from its gloriously nuanced take on coming out to its ensemble cast capturing the way relationships are hard for everyone because despite everything fairy tales tell you, love isn't magic.

Seasons 1 and 2 primarily focused on Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) and Nick Nelson (Kit Connor), from their meet-cute to their first kiss to the ups and downs of high school relationships. But Season 3 is when things begin to get real, as the stress of high school finally tips Charlie over the edge from vague flirting with a negative relationship to his body to a full-blown eating disorder. Moreover, though Nick wants to believe that if he just loves Charlie enough, it'll make him well, he will have to face the fact that love sometimes recognizes when the problem is bigger than being solved by any one person.

Season 3 also extends the issues of body dysmorphia to fan-favorite character Elle (Yasmin Finney), who is still adjusting to her body and the trauma of puberty. This trailer comes with trigger warnings, is what I'm saying, and the season's episodes probably will as well.

Here’s the third season synopsis:

Charlie would like to tell Nick that he loves him. Nick also has something important to say to Charlie. As the summer holiday ends and the months race on, the friends begin to realise that the school year will come with both its joys and its challenges. As they learn more about each other and their relationships, plan social events and parties and start thinking about university choices, everyone must learn to lean on those they love when life doesn't go to plan. 

Locke, Connor, and Finney lead the ensemble cast, which also features the return of William Gao as Tao, Corinna Brown as Tara, Kizzy Edgell as Darcy, Tobie Donovan as Isaac, Jenny Walser as Tori, Cormac Hyde-Corrin as Harry, Rhea Norwood as Imogen, Fisayo Akinade as Mr. Ajayi, and Chetna Pandya as Coach Singh. Stephen Fry also returns as the Voice of Headmaster Barnes.

New additions for Season 3 include Hayley Atwell (Howards End) as Nick’s Aunt Diane, Eddie Marsan (Ridley Road) as Charlie’s therapist Geoff, Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton) as celebrity classicist Jack Maddox, Darragh Hand (Grace) as Tori’s best friend Michael, and Jensen Clayden (EastEnders) as Oliver Spring. 

Alice Oseman once again penned all eight episodes of the season, with director Andy Newbery helming all installments. Oseman is also an executive producer alongside Patrick Walters, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, and Euros Lyn.

Heartstopper Season 3 will premiere on Netflix with all episodes on Thursday, October 3, 2024.