Heartstopper, the emotional comic book novels about identity, friendship and first love, have been turned into a heartwarming new series on Netflix which fans of the books can enjoy from the end of April 2022. Written and created by the author Alice Oseman and helmed by Sherlock and Doctor Who director Euros Lyn, the eight-parter stars Kit Connor (Rocketman, His Dark Materials) as popular year 11 student Nick Nelson, who ends up making friends with Charlie Spring in the year below. But as their friendship blossoms, both start to wonder if there could be something more between them.
Here’s everything we know about the uplifting love story Heartstopper season 1 on Netflix....
Heartstopper release date
All eight 30-minute episodes of Heartstopper series 1 will launch worldwide on Netflix on Friday April 22. It's a great series to binge.
Is there a Heartstopper trailer?
Yes a Heartstopper trailer has been released by Netflix which shows gentle Charlie meeting rugby-loving Nick plus all the angst, laughter, friendships and issues at their school. Take a look below...
Heartstopper plot
Heartstopper tells the story of two British teens at a British secondary school — Charlie, a high-strung, openly gay overthinker, and Nick Nelson, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player — who are one day are made to sit together.
The pair quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling for Nick, even though he doesn’t think he has a chance and dismisses it as 'pining after a straight boy he can't ever have'. But over the series, romance does blossom, and Nick and Charlie discover there’s a strong community of allies and friends around them, while also learning that there’s no 'right way' to come out.
There are some surprise cameos in the eight-parter to look out for too! While Nick and Charlie inevitably face major obstacles as they navigate the tricky territory of falling in love, the story is ultimately uplifting…
"It’s a realistic story told in an optimistic way,’ says acting newcomer Joe Locke who plays Charlie. "A lot of shows portray the more negative aspects of being gay, but it’s important to show the beauty of it, and all the lovely things that come along with it."
Kit Connor, who plays Nick, adds: "It looks at the world through rose-tinted spectacles. It’s also just a good, old-fashioned love story."
The show’s executive producer Patrick Walters certainly hopes Heartstopper will resonate with a young audience: "Heartstopper is a celebration of young queer love in all its forms. We hope audiences will take the this story to their hearts."
Heartstopper cast — Kit Connor and Joe Locke on playing Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring
Following an open casting that saw over 10,000 people audition, Kit Connor (who played the young Elton John in the film Rocketman) landed the role of Nick Nelson, while newcomer Joe Locke has been cast as Charlie Spring in his first screen appearance.
Kit Connor says: "Their relationship between Nick and Charlie hits both by surprise - especially Nick. Originally it’s just a friendship, and they enjoy spending time with each other. That’s when Nick realises it maybe something more."
Joe Locke adds: "From the moment Charlie sees Nick, he has a crush on him, but to him it just seems like he’s “pining after a straight boy”. He doesn’t see it as a realistic crush, which partly stems from his low self-esteem, but also, quite a lot of young gay people have that experience, where they don’t feel like their crushes will happen."
Who else is starring in Heartstopper?
Hollywood superstar Olivia Colman is playing Nick Nelson's mum Sarah which was kept secret by Netflix until the series was launched. There are plenty of newcomers among the young Heartstopper cast who made it through the huge auditioning process. Yasmin Finney and William Gao will play Charlie's best friends Elle and Tao, who are missing each other after Elle moves schools. Corinna Brown and Kizzy Edgell are to play as Tara and Darcy, a newly out couple dealing with all the attention coming out brings from their peers at school.
More of the young cast include Cormac Hyde-Corrin as bullying rich boy Harry and the Children’s BAFTA-nominated Sebastian Croft (Horrible Histories: The Movie, Game of Thrones) as Ben, while Tobie Donovan and Rhea Norwood will play students Isaac and Imogen.
Heartstopper on Netflix — behind the scenes and what else we know
Described as "the queer graphic novel wished we had at high school" by the Gay Times, Heartstopper has been penned by its original writer and creator Alice Oseman, while Euros Lyn, whose credits include Sherlock, Damilola: Our Loved Boy, His Dark Materials and Doctor Who, directs.
Alice Oseman says: "Nick and Charlie have existed as characters for almost a decade, and are two of my most beloved characters, so I was slightly apprehensive about the casting search, but I am so happy and excited that we've cast Kit Connor and Joe Locke. They're both so talented, sweet, funny and smart, and so perfect. It’s been such fun getting to know them and I can’t wait to see them bring the characters to life on screen. With over 10,000 applicants and a global pandemic, the casting process was no easy task. But after many months of searching, we found an incredibly talented group of young actors who are all super passionate about bringing this story to life. I was able to spend lots of time with them to talk about the characters, their arcs, and their importance to the story. Each actor shone and will make the readers of Heartstopper proud.”
Will there be a Heartstopper season 2?
Netflix hasn't announced if there's to be a Heartstopper season 2, but given the success of series 1 and the fact that there is so much more to tell of Nick and Charlie's relationship, we feel confident there will be. A spin-off novella by Alice Oseman is called Nick and Charlie where the beloved Heartstopper characters find themselves at a crossroads when Nick heads off to university. Can this first love survive the distance, or are they just delaying the inevitable? Surely this would be perfect for another series by Netflix?
