For many in the young cast of Heartstopper, the heartwarming YA romance was their very first project. When they embarked on the adaptation of Alice Oseman’s graphic novels in the spring of 2022, they had no idea what the series would become. Heartstopper Forever, now streaming, is a bookend to their fresh-faced first appearances. The finale film celebrates what makes this fan-favorite friend group so special, and how much has changed on and off-screen.
“When we first made the first season, we didn’t know if anyone would watch,” says Kit Connor, who co-stars alongside Joe Locke. “It became something quite special that people really care about. Now that we know just how much people care about it, that’s changed our relationship to it.”
Heartstopper Forever finds the Truham-Higgs squad at a crossroads, as the year 13 characters decide what to do after graduation. Nick (Connor) is applying to Leeds City College, but he’s conflicted by the fear of being long-distance with year 12 boyfriend, Charlie (Joe Locke).
Their friends — Elle (Yasmin Finney), Tao (William Gao), Imogen (Rhea Norwood), Darcy (Kizzy Edgell), Tara (Corinna Brown), and Isaac (Tobie Donovan) — also grapple with how the unknown future will change their tight-knit group. “We have to say goodbye to all of these characters that we’ve grown to love over the past few years,” says Oseman, who creates, writes, and executive produces the Heartstopper universe. “I worked hard to make sure that in the film and in the books, everyone gets their goodbye moment.”
Just as the teens see each other off, Heartstopper Forever also offers a chance for fans to bid farewell to the characters they’ve grown up alongside. “It’s rare to be part of a project that has such a meaningful impact on people,” says Locke. “I still get people in the street talking about how the show has affected their lives in positive ways. I’ll talk to parents and children about how they were able to have an open dialogue because of Heartstopper, and that will always be the most special thing.”
So what’s ahead for Nick, Charlie, and their friends in Heartstopper Forever? Keep reading to hear from the cast yourself.
From the first few minutes of Heartstopper Forever, Charlie is practically unrecognizable as he begins year 12 — the once shy, anxious boy we met in Season 1 has bloomed into a more confident, thriving version. Charlie has gained the tools to manage his mental health struggles, and is finding his voice at school as newly appointed head boy.
“A lot of the film is seeing Charlie in his power. He’s grown up now, he’s excited about the future,” says Locke. “It was nice to be able to play that with the self-assuredness that I have in myself now compared to when we were doing Season 1 five years ago.”
One reason Locke may feel more confident is that he and Connor are both executive producers for the first time. “I feel like we’ve been grown-ups for the first time,” Locke says on set. “I feel very lucky to be able to take on that role so early in our careers and be in those conversations, because Heartstopper and these characters have been such a huge part of our lives.”
Agatha All Along
Nick is preparing for the exciting next step of uni, but he has to work through a few things at home before shipping off. For one, he navigates some long-simmering familial issues that followed him through Seasons 1–3. “His dad was the key factor for a lot of Nick’s insecurities and complexes,” says Connor.
The reality of what it’ll mean to be long-distance with Charlie is also catching up to him. “He is at a point where his life is about to change a lot,” says Connor. “Nick is struggling with who he is as a person. Suddenly Charlie is really doing quite well. Nick is faced with this question, ‘If I’m not a support system and if I’m not what I thought I was, then who am I?’”
To figure out who he is beyond a rugby captain and boyfriend, Nick follows his longtime love of dogs and starts working at a neighborhood shelter. But don’t worry, he still finds plenty of time for his own pups, Nellie and Henry.
Rocketman, His Dark Materials
Elle is a passionate painter who has become a fierce advocate for trans rights as they come under threat. Her friendships with Darcy, Tara, and her art school buds like Naomi have never been stronger, but her relationship with Tao (William Gao) is teetering at a crossroads. As Elle considers her next step as an artist, the couple starts to question their future.
For Finney, the end of Heartstopper feels “bittersweet.” She reminisces, “Going from no acting experience to getting Heartstopper, playing a trans role, and being able to step into this realm of confidence that I’ve never felt before. It has really helped me and saved me a lot within my personal life and my transition.”
Life Hack, Doctor Who
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Tao is the protective mama bear of the Truham-Higgs squad, and with all of the changes that graduation brings, he has his hands full being worried about the ones he loves. “I definitely resonate with his fear of losing his friends and needing to start a new chapter,” says Gao.
Even though Elle and Tao’s future is murky, the film showcases what makes their relationship so special. “It’s this wonderful depiction of the awkwardness, the cringe of getting into a relationship, and the film just expands that,” says Gao. “It’s beautiful to just play it as love, because love is this universal thing.”
Look out for an ode to the core Season 1 friend group, as Oseman brings the original foursome together during a moment of crisis: “Charlie, Tao, Elle, and Isaac have this core friendship group, and I love that we get to see that moment for their friendship in the film,” says Oseman.
Breakwater, Sunrise
Isaac is always there for his friends and is careful not to take sides. Affable and a great secret keeper, Isaac can rarely be found without his head in a book. He identifies as aromantic and asexual — and is surrounded by love-obsessed couples.
Fans have expressed their love for Isaac, a beloved character who is said to represent Oseman’s own experience. But there’s one memorable interaction that stands out for Donovan.
“I went to the Aesop store in Florence, and it was the first time I’d been abroad since the show came out. I didn't think that anyone cared,” Donovan describes. “Well, Heartstopper is huge in Italy apparently. This lady working at the store gave me a free perfume. That was my favorite fan experience.”
Looking back on the series as a whole, Donovan only has one piece of advice for his beloved character in Season 1? “Get a better haircut,” says Donovan.
Lynley
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Tara is a school leader who enters year 13 on track to continue overachieving at university. Only when things don’t go to plan, the surprise turns out to be a blessing in disguise: Tara realizes how many other options exist for her, and she and Darcy decide to explore a different path.
For Brown, it’s the character’s vast optimism that helps her weather this tough transition from high school. “I like her positivity. No matter what’s going on, Tara’s mostly looking out for the good in it,” Brown said on set. “She looks at the brighter side, which I think every human being should try.”
Supacell, The Kitchen
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Ever quippy and sweet, Darcy continues to grow and evolve in their nonbinary identity. “Darcy has never been one for being rigid to the rules,” says Edgell on set. “That’s the thing about transition: It’s never complete. There’s no end goal. I’m going to be perpetually in transition.”
One of the ways that Darcy evolves is in how they present, which includes wearing a binder. “Watching the way they dress, trying out things and experimenting is all Darcy’s thing, which has been so nice and so fun to play with,” Edgell adds.
Dead Red Kite
Never without a sparkly makeup look and colorful outfit, Imogen always leads with curiosity and an open mind.
“Imogen’s still discovering herself and her sexuality — that’s an ever-evolving thing,” says Norwood. “With social media, we put ourselves in a box; we’ve become confined to trying to find our identity externally. We’ve seen so many different evolutions of Imogen, and that’s a really beautiful and truthful thing to have presented on screen. I try to always keep changing — that’s part of growing up.”
Norwood and Edgell trust that Imogen would bring this same approach into her professional life. During a set visit, the two actors brainstormed what Imogen’s job would be: “I like the idea of you being a girlboss, or maybe something in nonprofits,” offers Edgell. “She could be an influencer,” Norwood counters. “She’d probably do some tarot readings here and there for people from Essex.”
Only Murders in the Building, Pride and Prejudice
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It’s taken a few seasons to peel back the layers of Tori’s deadpan, goth exterior. By Season 3, she’s become a key support system for Charlie’s mental health struggles. In the finale film, she shares what makes her enigmatic relationship with Michael (Darragh Hand) work. “She gets to come out, but in the most Tori way possible,” says Walser of her asexual character.
Tori’s emerged from her shell so much that she’s even ditched her emotional support cup in a few scenes. “It’s been quite nice to not always be holding a drink,” laughs Walser.
The day Tudum visited the Heartstopper Forever set was Walser’s last day. “I will probably cry because it’s been four years of our lives, and it’s always just been like, ‘Oh well, I’ll come back and do that again,’” she said on set.
Star City, Sweetpea, Call the Midwife
Sahar is the lead singer to Charlie’s drummer in the band Queer Intentions. As her peers ponder uni, Sahah is thinking about her music.
Death in Paradise
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Michael joined the show in Season 3. He’s a competitive speed skater and is training for the Winter Olympics (although, of course, the humble athlete would be last to tell you that). Tori reveals just how important her relationship with Michael is to her during Heartstopper Forever.
Wake Wood, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast
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Harry hasn’t always been the most thoughtful boy at Truham. By Season 3, however, it seems that he’s turned over a new leaf. He’s Charlie’s sole competition for the position of head boy, and he runs a slightly different campaign.
Napoleon
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Meet one of Elle’s newer friends. Like Elle, Naomi is also passionate about art. Naomi joins the Truham-Higgs friends to celebrate Pride.
Felix is another one of Elle’s new creative friends whom she meets outside of Truham Higgs. Felix and Elle celebrate Pride together on the same float.
Mammoth, Shortflix
David is Nick’s older brother, and he idolizes their less-than-involved dad, Stephane (Thibault de Montalembert) — or does he? As Nick works through their complicated history, David’s relationship with Stephane becomes more complicated than it once appeared.
Rogue Heroes, Poor Things
Riches pops up in Heartstopper Season 1 as an unnamed Truham student. In Season 2, he stepped into the limelight as James, someone who enters the orbit of Charlie’s friend group and fosters a special connection with Isaac. And he returns in Heartstopper Forever.
Emmerdale Farm, Wreck
Mr. Ajayi is Truham’s art teacher, and has been an important ally to Charlie since Charlie was outed. In earlier seasons, Mr. Ajayi would let Charlie eat lunch in his classroom to avoid bullies. In Heartstopper Forever, he remains a sounding board as Charlie evolves and takes on a leadership role as head boy.
The Girl with All the Gifts
Mr. Farouk is a Truham science teacher whose relationship with his co-worker, Mr. Ajayi, becomes less and less private, much to their students’ delight.
Femme, Hatton Garden
While Mr. Ajayi is Charlie’s favorite teacher, Coach Singh becomes another one of his Truham mentors. She also gives valuable advice to Nick as the leader of the rugby team.
Line of Duty
We technically have Mr. Lange to thank for Charlie and Nick’s love story. The Truham teacher is the one who paired up the lovebirds during morning form.
In Heartstopper Forever, he oversees Charlie’s initiatives as head boy.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Mary Queen of Scots, Hollyoaks
Amidst all of Nick’s complicated family dynamics, his mum Sarah remains an anchor for him.
The role was originally played by Olivia Colman, but when Colman wasn’t available to join for the film, Oseman carefully made the decision to recast Sarah. “It felt nonsensical for Sarah to be absent from this final chapter, given some of the emotional struggles Nick faces,” says Oseman.
Martin was the perfect fit. Connor says, “Anna was brilliant. She has that real humanity that a character like Sarah needs. It was amazing working with her.”
Motherland, Ludwig
Pete and his partner enjoy two black coffees at Rainy Day Cafe, where Charlie works. “It was really amazing to get to work with Derek Jacobi,” says Locke. “He’s the top tier of British actors and it was very special to get to share that day with him.”
Last Tango in Halifax; I, Claudius
Alice Oseman has previously appeared in Heartstopper, but her blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance in the finale film is extra special because it mirrors her first one.
“I felt that it would be a great full-circle moment for me to be on the train, drawing, just like I was in Season 1. It felt really special to be sitting on a train again with Charlie Spring!” she says. “Perhaps somewhere liminal and transient like a train journey is the only kind of place we can exist together. The film has so many heartwarming callbacks to previous seasons, and this is just one of those moments.”
Patrick Walters executive produced Heartstopper Seasons 1-3, and is now EP of Heartstopper Forever. For Walters, the brief appearance marks a culmination of years on set. “Alice and I have been on set, lurking every day that we’ve shot Heartstopper, for the last four or five years,” he says.
The Essex Serpent, Sweetpea
