We can’t get enough of Heartstopper on Netflix, which brings to life Alice Oseman’s graphic novels about growing up as part of the LGBTQ+ community. Nick and Charlie have already given us so much joy and heartbreak, but we think we’re just about ready for more when the Heartstopper season 3 release date comes around.
Given the success of Heartstopper, it’s no surprise that we got confirmation that one of the best Netflix series was in front of cameras within just a few months of the season 2 premiere in August 2023. It’s a sensitive and affectionate drama that seeks to provide a real portrait of teenage life for LGBTQ+ people in the 21st century, and we can’t wait to have it back on our screens. The best TV series don’t come around very often, so here’s what we know so far.
Heartstopper season 3 release date speculation
Good news — Heartstopper season 3 has already begun production, and is likely to hit Netflix during the fall of 2024.
Netflix announced on its Twitter account on October 2, 2023, that production for Heartstopper season 3 had started! If we’re looking at past seasons, the post-production period took longer than filming, with a ten-month period between the wrapping and release of season 1.
With that in mind, the end of summer 2024/early fall seems like the most likely timeframe for season 3.
Who’s in the Heartstopper season 3 cast?
All our favorite cast members — including Kit Connor, Joe Locke, and Yasmin Finney — will most likely return.
After all, the show would be nothing without Kit Connor and Joe Locke as Nick and Charlie. In the wake of the Heartstopper season 2 ending, we can’t wait to see how their romance develops in the third season.
Finney’s star is very much on the rise as she recently joined the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials as Rose Noble, daughter of Donna. With such a prominent role in one of the best sci-fi series around, as well as her work in Heartstopper, she’s bringing a refreshing uptick in trans representation to our TV screens. We are definitely here for it.
There will, however, be some big changes. We know that Sebastian Croft won’t be back as Ben. His appearance in season 2 was already a departure from the source material and Oseman has confirmed that his storyline in the show is now at an end.
We also know about a new addition. Darragh Hand will play Michael Holden, who was one of the main characters in Oseman’s first novel, Solitaire, along with Tori Spring. On Instagram, Oseman wrote that Michael is “a quirky, eccentric optimist with a sunshine disposition”.
Possible Heartstopper season 3 cast list:
- Joe Locke as Charlie Spring
- Kit Connor as Nick Nelson
- Yasmin Finney as Elle Argent
- Darragh Hand as Michael Holden
- William Gao as Tao Xu
- Kizzy Edgell as Darcy Olsson
- Corinna Brown as Tara Jones
- Cormac Hyde-Corrin as Harry Greene
- Jenny Walser as Tori Spring
- Olivia Colman as Sarah Nelson
- Fisayo Akinade as Mr Ajayi
- Leila Khan as Sahar Zahid
- Nima Taleghani as Mr Farouk
- Bradley Riches as James McEwan
- Tobie Donovan as Isaac Henderson
- Rhea Norwood as Imogen Heaney
What will Heartstopper season 3 be about?
Heartstopper season 3 will most likely adapt Volume 4 of Alice Oseman’s comic, which is all about Nick and Charlie preparing to declare their love for each other.
While season 1 of Heartstopper adapted the first two volumes of the comic, season 2 honed in on Volume 3. The end of season 2, which introduced elements of Charlie’s struggling mental health and eating disorder, also helps to set up the events of Volume 4.
The fourth volume of the comic centers around two main themes: Nick and Charlie preparing to say the “L” word to each other, and Nick learning about the extent of Charlie’s mental health issues and helping him open up to his parents. Netflix has teased the importance of the “L” word, releasing a sneak peek in September 2023 confirming that the first episode of season 3 will be entitled ‘Love’.
It’s likely that these two core themes will be at the center of Heartstopper season 3 while also continuing a number of narrative threads set up in season 2, which was among the best drama series of 2023.
These include Tao and Elle’s budding relationship, as the latter has decided to move away to art college, and how Darcy’s home life impacts her relationship with Tara. We can also expect to see more of Isaac exploring his asexual identity and what that means.
Is there a Heartstopper season 3 trailer?
It’s too early for a season 3 trailer. We can expect one the month before season 3’s release.
In the meantime, catch up with everything you missed in season 2 as we look back at Heartstopper’s season 2 trailer. You can also read our Heartstopper season 2 review to see what we thought of the latest installment of this show.
Where can I watch Heartstopper season 3?
You’ll be able to watch Heartstopper season 3 on Netflix.
This is because the series is a Netflix exclusive, and we already know that one of the best streaming services has ordered a third season. It won’t be available to watch anywhere else.
How many episodes of Heartstopper season 3 will there be?
We expect there to be eight episodes for Heartstopper season 3, as this was the case with the last two seasons.
However, it’s possible that we might get a shorter season because of the 2023 Hollywood strikes, as streamers/networks aim to mitigate the impact of any writing and production delays.
For more streaming hits, check out our guide to everything that’s new on Netflix this month. We’ve also put together a list of the best Netflix movies and explained how Extraction 2 broke a Netflix record.
You can also explore more LGBTQ+ content with our guide to the XO Kitty season 2 release date, or look ahead to more teen stories with our guide to Wednesday season 2. Oh, and don’t forget our listicle of 1o unmissable LGBTQ+ movies from Outfest 2023.