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The series wrapped up with the ‘Heartstopper Forever’ movie on July 17
NEED TO KNOW
- Heartstopper Forever concluded the three-season Netflix series Heartstopper with a feature-length film
- The movie explores Nick and Charlie’s relationship as they face challenges of growing up and being apart
- Next up, cast members will star in the Elden Ring film, the Pride and Prejudice Netflix series and more
Heartstopper Forever brings the wholesome Heartstopper series — and the heartwarming love story of Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) and Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) — to a close.
The Netflix series, based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novels of the same name, ran for three seasons beginning in 2022. It culminated with a feature-length film, which premiered on July 17.
The coming-of-age film sees Nick going to college and struggling with being apart from Charlie, who is in his senior year of high school. When Nick confesses that he’s “only happy” when he’s with his boyfriend, Charlie, concerned, replies, “I don’t think that’s how it should be. I need you to be okay without me.”
Oseman, who created and executive produced the Heartstopper series, penned Heartstopper Forever, noting that it examines what happens when the teenaged characters are faced with growing up.
“On a slightly deeper level, I think this movie will explore what makes love survive, or what elevates it, or deepens it,” Oseman said in an interview with Netflix’s Tudum. “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?”
Take a look back at the Heartstopper cast and characters to see how much they’ve each grown up since season 1.
01 of 10
Joe Locke as Charlie Spring
Without any prior screen experience, Locke beat out more than 10,000 other actors to play Charlie in Heartstopper. He was just 17 years old during filming of season 1, when his character first fell in love with Nick.
Locke said at the time that he hoped young LGBTQ+ viewers would “see themselves” in the series.
“I want it to say to young queer people: ‘You deserve to have this story. This happiness is not out of your reach,’ ” he told The Independent in April 2022. “‘You do not deserve the things in a classic heterosexual love story because you happen to be queer.’ ”
Throughout Heartstopper, Charlie has coped with being bullied for being gay as well as dealing with anorexia nervosa and obsessive compulsive disorder. Locke said in a September 2025 interview with Capital FM that he’ll miss the role, but that moving on is part of growing up.
“You know, Charlie has been such a big part of my life for five years, and so, to finish it was bittersweet, but also mostly sweet because I feel like it was time,” he said. “It was like sending your child off to university.”
Next up, Locke will star alongside Andrew Scott and Olivia Colman in the biographical film Elsinore about the actor Ian Charleson.
02 of 10
Kit Connor as Nick Nelson
As Nick, Connor comes to terms with his bisexuality throughout Heartstopper.
In 2022, Connor publicly came out as bisexual. For Connor, one of the things he loved most about playing Nick was providing bisexual representation.
“Playing those kind[s] of moments … it sort of felt like the main arc of the character,” he explained in a 2022 Critics’ Choice Awards panel (via Them). “Because it’s not just so much working out whether you are a boy who’s attracted to another boy, it’s also discovering whether or not everything he’s previously thought about his sexuality is suddenly invalid or it’s something he wants to still acknowledge. I think that’s something that isn’t seen very often.”
Heartstopper Forever focuses on the complications that going to college brings to his relationship with Charlie — and his sense of self.
After the film’s debut, Connor will star in the upcoming film adaptation Elden Ring based on the video game of the same name alongside Cailee Spaeny and Nick Offerman.
03 of 10
Yasmin Finney as Elle Argent
Yasmin Finney stars as Elle Argent in Heartstopper, and like Finney, her character is also trans. In the series, Elle transfers from Truham Grammar School for Boys, where she was bullied, to Harvey Greene Grammar School for Girls following her transition.
Like Locke, Heartstopper — in which her character grappled with body dysphoria and its impacts on her relationship with Tao Xu (William Gao) — was Finney’s first screen role ever.
“When I was growing up, I never had someone to look up to, who is my age, who I could really put my hope into; for me to be that person for some people, is a real blessing and a gift,” she told Elle UK in September 2024. “The Black queer community is always on its knees, and it’s always tested by everyone, and to be a part of something — it’s not even a fan base, I see it as a movement.”
Finney told NBC News that her dream is to someday win an Oscar.
“My next goal in my career is to be able to play a role which doesn’t specify a trans identity but also that can just impact people in another way,” she said. “Elle impacted a certain community, but I just want a role which will be able to impact everyone. Heartstopper has had such a good response, and it makes me think that I can do anything.”
04 of 10
William Gao as Tao Xu
Gao plays Tao Xu, one of Charlie and Nick’s best friends.
In Heartstopper, viewers can see Tao mature as his relationship with Elle progresses from friendship to romance, especially when he addresses abandonment issues he suffered following the death of his father.
“Tao’s really been on that journey with [Elle],” Gao explained to the Hollywood Reporter in October 2024. “There’s that history there, that real understanding and friendship. There’s a lot of love from Tao, fierce protectiveness and real allyship and companionship right from the get go.”
Next up, Gao will appear in the European refugee drama Becoming Capa alongside Anora’s Mark Eydelshteyn, per Variety.
05 of 10
Jenny Walser as Tori Spring
Jenny Walser appears as Charlie’s often sardonic and dry older sister, Tori Spring.
In Heartstopper season 3, Tori had a larger role that showed her loving and protective side, as she dated Michael Holden (Darragh Hand) and stepped in to support Charlie.
“Tori’s really starting to come into her own, it’s been so fun to see and to play,” Walser told PIBE magazine. “I particularly love the addition of Michael Holden to the equation and would love to see more of their dynamic because I think they’re both adorable and hilarious.”
06 of 10
Corinna Brown as Tara Jones
Corinna Brown has played Tara Jones, who’s in a relationship with Darcy Olsson (Kizzy Edgell), since season 1.
In season 3, Tara struggles with anxiety, leading Charlie to help her through a panic attack from stress about school, university plans and social obligations. Brown says that in Heartstopper Forever, Tara is more assertive about pursuing what she truly wants.
“I think she’s come into her own a lot. She’s taken the pressures of family and school and said, ‘I want to be me and it’s okay to change your goals and explore life,’ ” Brown told Numéro Netherlands. “In Heartstopper Forever, she’s more open to the new.”
07 of 10
Kizzy Edgell as Darcy Olsson
In season 3, Darcy began using they/them pronouns and left their mother’s home to move in with their grandmother.
Edgell, who uses he/him/they/them pronouns, told Into More that his own transition somewhat influenced Darcy’s gender exploration in the series, which is part of why saying goodbye to the character is hard for him.
“I sometimes feel like Darcy is my friend — like, my best friend — so I only want the best for them,” he said. “And I am really happy that I get to be Darcy. That is crazy to me. I’m not a method actor, but also growing up — I was 18 when we started; I’m 22 now — with this character, it feels like we’re joined at the hip somehow. And I personally never want to let Darcy go. I would want to play Darcy forever if I could.”
08 of 10
Tobie Donovan as Isaac Henderson
Tobie Donovan plays the bookworm Isaac Henderson in Heartstopper, who opens up to his friends in season 3 about being asexual and aromantic.
Donovan revealed to Boys By Girls that he had a hand in choosing some of Isaac’s reading material in the show, which included titles as simple as Where’s Wally? (the U.K. version of Where’s Waldo?) and as heavy as Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables.
“I pushed Les Mis because I am obsessed with the musical, and it was amazing because we were driving around in Paris one day on our way to the location, and the car pulled up to drop us off right on Hugo Place — a street in Paris that’s named after the author. It all fell into place,” he said. “I also pushed for Where’s Wally? I just thought that would be really funny.”
09 of 10
Rhea Norwood as Imogen Heaney
In season 1, Imogen Heaney (Rhea Norwood) has a crush on Nick, who’s one of her best friends, but is understanding when Nick bails on a date with her to be with Charlie. She then moves on briefly with Ben Hope (Sebastian Croft) in season 2.
Season 3 sees Imogen develop a crush on Sahar Zahid (Leila Khan), and the two share kisses at a Halloween party and on New Year’s Eve.
Next up, Norwood will star as Lydia Bennet in Netflix’s Pride and Prejudice series alongside Emma Corrin, Jack Lowden and Colman.
10 of 10
Fisayo Akinade as Nathan Ajayi
Fisayo Akinade appears as Nathan Ajayi, Charlie’s art teacher and confidant. In season 3, Mr. Ajayi supported Charlie through his mental health struggles and made his relationship with fellow teacher Youssef Farouk (Nima Taleghani) official.
Akinade told Principle that he loved playing Mr. Ajayi, but is happy to close the Heartstopper chapter of his career with the film.
“I’m at peace with it,” he said. “Mr. Ajayi had his impact in season 1, and then with Mr. Farouk in season 2 and after that other arcs took precedence. From that point I felt like I’d done what I needed to do and people had experienced it. I’m happy to wave it farewell, but it will remain one of the biggest joys and privileges of my life.”
After Heartstopper Forever, Akinade will be in the cast of First Day on Earth, Michaela Coel’s upcoming HBO series alongside Thandiwe Newton and Ncuti Gatwa.
Read the original article on People
