Picture: Netflix
Heartstopper, one of Netflix’s big coming-of-age series originating from the UK, returned for its second season in August 2023. A third season has long since been confirmed, and filming began in October 2023. Here’s everything we know: some first-look snaps behind the scenes, the first new cast announcement, and its current release date.
News of season 3 of Heartstopper was revealed when we received the release date and first look at Heartstopper season 2. Just in case you missed it, all eight new episodes of season 2 dropped on Netflix globally on August 3rd, 2023.
Let’s dive into everything known about Heartstopper season 3 so far, beginning with the recent announcement that the new season will be dropping this October:
Where is Heartstopper Season 3 in Production?
As you may know, the show films are entirely in England, with the majority of it mainly shot in or around London. Some of the locations the show has filmed at previously include Twickenham Film Studios, Windsor, and Uxbridge.
Multiple sources, including UKCastingNews, indicated over the summer that an October 2023 filming start for the third season of Heartstopper.
On October 2nd, 2023, Netflix UK tweeted that production has officially begun on season 3.
Picture: Netflix
On October 4th, we got some first-look pictures of the team filming the new season, specifically at a beach at Lyme Regis in Dorset.
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- Picture Credit: Graham Hunt/Alamy Live News
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- Picture Credit: Graham Hunt/Alamy Live News
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- Picture Credit: Graham Hunt/Alamy Live News
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- Picture Credit: Graham Hunt/Alamy Live News
Up until now, director Euros Lynn has directed every single episode of Heartstopper, but that will change in season 3 with Andy Newbery stepping into the director’s chair for season 3. Newbery has previously worked on shows like The Light in the Hall, Shetland, Hidden, and Bregus.
Pictured: Andy Newbery
Initially, production was expected to wrap up just before Christmas, with the scheduled wrap date currently set for December 20th, 2023. However, on December 15th (one week early), Netflix’s social accounts confirmed that filming had wrapped up already.
Picture: Netflix
Who is in the cast of Heartstopper Season 3?
Naturally, most of the main cast will return for the third season of Heartstopper;
- Joe Locke as Charlie Spring
- Kit Connor as Nick Nelson
- William Gao as Tao Xu
- Yasmine Finney as Elle Argent
- Tobie Donovan as Isaac Henderson
- Cormac Hyde-Corrin as Harry Greene
- Rhea Norwood as Imogen Heaney
- Corinna Brown as Tara Jones
- Kizzy Edgell as Darcy Olsson
A major change to the cast is Sebastian Croft won’t be returning for the third season as Ben.
The first major casting announcement came in November 2023, with Netflix’s social media accounts confirming that Darragh Hand had been cast as Michael Holden for the upcoming third season. First featured in Solitaire, Michael is described in the books as being an average-looking boy with thick-framed glasses and brown hair, usually gelled into a side part but wavy when not styled. He’s also described as nerdy and awkward for an athlete, noted for his height and wearing oversized glasses and slightly short jeans.
Picture: Netflix
In February 2024, we reported that Hayley Atwell (Mission Impossible, Agent Carter) had been cast as Diane, who is Nick’s aunt.
There are also rumors that Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey is rumored to have joined the season 3 cast also.
Heartstopper Season 3 episodes count and titles
Season 3 will consist of eight episodes. The first episode’s title has already been revealed as “Love.”
Heartstopper season 3 – episode 1 title- Picture: Netflix
What can we expect from Heartstopper season 3?
Charlie was a mere sentence and a touch away from telling Nick the immortal words “I love you.” However, before we got the chance to see Charlie’s decision, the second season ended. Whatever has been left unsaid between the young pair will hopefully be resolved in season 3.
Per Netflix, here’s the official synopsis for season 3:
“This season, 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 realize 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.”
According to DigitalSpy, based on the novels, we should see the couple move to college this season. Alice Oseman teased the outlet that other characters will have a larger role in the new season.
When will Heartstopper season 3 be released on Netflix?
In the video embedded above, Netflix officially confirmed that season 3 of Heartstopper will debut on Netflix in October 2024. New series typically land on Netflix on Thursdays so it’ll likely be one of the following: October 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th or the 31st.
While you’re waiting, you can now purchase Volume 5 of the Heartstopper novel, which was released in the UK on December 7th, while in the US, it won’t be released until December 19th:
https://twitter.com/AliceOseman/status/1707395457528344946
Editor’s note: Contains additional contributions by Jacob Robinson.
Are you looking forward to a third season of Heartstopper on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below.
