to Variety. Fans of the series, which follows a group of mostly queer high school students experiencing the dizzy highs and angsty lows of first love, are hyped for more “Heartstopper” — even if the show isn’t actually getting a fourth season.
The romantic drama gained critical praise and a strong following from the moment it premiered on Netflix in 2022, in part due to the built-in fan base of the “Heartstopper” webcomics and graphic novels. With series author Alice Oseman on board the TV adaptation (the writer executive produced the show and penned every episode) and tender lead performances from young stars Joe Locke and Kit Connor, “Heartstopper” seemed to steal the whole world’s heart. Hell, the show even won two GLAAD awards for its wholesome portrayal of blossoming teen love. So why didn’t “Heartstopper” get renewed for a full fourth season? It’s not exactly clear, but we do know that the movie avenue wasn’t the original plan.
The official “Heartstopper” movie announcement was quickly followed by a Tudum interview with Oseman in which they expressed a whole lot of excitement for the film — and a dash of surprise, too. “I totally understand if fans are a little apprehensive,” Oseman admitted in response to a question about the upcoming adjustment. “It’s a big change from what we know. It’s something totally new and unknown, and yes, the runtime will be less than a TV season.” She continued: “Even I needed some time to process and come to terms with the change. But once I began to see the entire vision, I knew it would be something even more beautiful than a regular season could achieve.”
