Heartstopper season 3 release date set for October 2024: Everything we know

Following a decent wait after the breakout hit first season, Heartstopper season 2 finally premiered on Netflix in August 2023. The next chapter of Charlie and Nick’s story, along with those of all their amazing friends, left fans wanting even more from Heartstopper season 3. The season began filming in October 2023, and we're happy to announce it will be released in October 2024!

The show, which is based on the series of graphic novels of the same name by Alice Oseman, was an instant worldwide success on Netflix thanks in part to its adoring online fandom and that of Oseman’s best-selling collection of books.

Thankfully, Netflix doesn’t appear to be getting out of the Heartstopper business anytime soon, with Heartstopper season 3 already coming to our screens later this year. We’re sharing everything fans need to know about the upcoming season below. The latest update was on March 20, 2024.

Heartstopper season 3 will release in October 2024

On Wednesday, March 20, Netflix dropped the exciting announcement that Heartstopper season 3 will be released in October 2024 along with a behind the scenes video of Joe Locke, Kit Connor, and the rest of the cast on set of the season's eighth episode. The streamer didn't yet announce the exact day the new season will be released, but now fans have something to look forward to this fall. It seems so far away, but it will fly by!

Watch the clip below of the cast previewing what's next for their characters from the set of the season finale's Truham Summer Fête!

When Netflix renewed Heartstopper for season 2 in May 2022, the streamer also ordered season 3 in a rare double renewal. The season began filming in October 2023 and wrapped in December 2023. We had previously predicted the season would be released in summer 2024 given the previous season's release in August. While we wish that we would be getting new Heartstopper sooner than October, it's still amazing knowing when the new episodes will arrive.

Along with the release date window, Netflix also shared the season 3 synopsis:

"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."

The synopsis reflects the continued maturation of the characters as they approach university and the eventual rest of their lives. As you grow up, life with inevitably become more difficult, and the characters have been dealing with some tough situations, whether it's with their family, friends, significant others, or themselves.

Variety shared a quote from creator Alice Oseman about the direction of season 3 and the topics the new episodes would cover:

"I’m really excited that we are allowing the tone of the show to mature alongside our beloved characters growing up. Mental health, sex, university ambitions and more: Nick, Charlie, and the Heartstopper teens are getting older, learning more about themselves and each other, and experiencing new desires, new fears, and new joys as they approach adulthood."

- Alice Oseman, creator

Season 3 wrapped filming in December 2023

On Dec. 15, Alice Oseman and Netflix announced that filming on season 3 had wrapped just ahead of the holidays. A photo of Oseman holding the film slate between Joe Locke and Kit Connor commemorated the exciting occasion. Now that filming has been completed, it's time for post-production ahead of its eventual release in October 2024!

On Oct. 2, 2023, Netflix announced that the third season of Heartstopper officially started production. The streaming service made the announcement with a photo of author and creator Alice Oseman holding a film slate that features the show’s title, season 3, a drawing of Nick and Charlie, and a pride flag.

Back in April 2023, What’s on Netflix reported that the third season was looking to get started on production in October 2023, and that prediction was right on the money. Even with reports of the alleged filming start date arriving prior to the dual strikes, the new season was still able to begin production on time.

In August, it was unknown if or how Heartstopper season 3 could be delayed by either the writers’ strike or the Screen Actors Guild strike. Us Weekly noted that the series is produced by the British-Australian production company See-Saw Films, which likely has ties to the British actors union Equity and would have its actors follow those guidelines. But Deadline also reported that British actors have been concerned to work during the strike, even under Equity deals, given the confusion of the terms.

On Oct. 3, Kit Connor, Joe Locke, and more cast members were spotted filming scenes at the beach, which is a well-known and anticipated sequence from the comics. Oseman shared a photo of Connor and Locke filming a scene on the beach along with their announcement post about season 3's final day of filming.

Season 3 cast

The cast for season 3 isn’t expected to have any major shake-ups, with the entire main, supporting, and recurring cast all but locked to be back in season 3. Of course, Kit Connor and Joe Locke will be back as Nick and Charlie, as will the rest of the core cast of young actors playing their friends. Other characters will surely return in their supporting or guest roles.

Here’s who’s expected to return for Heartstopper season 3:

• Kit Connor as Nick Nelson
• Joe Locke as Charlie Spring
• William Gao as Tao Xu
• Yasmin Finney as Elle Argent
• Corinna Brown as Tara Jones
• Kizzy Edgell as Darcy Olsson
• Tobie Donovan as Isaac Henderson
• Jenny Walser as Tori Spring
• Sebastian Croft as Ben Hope
• Cormac Hyde-Corrin as Harry Greene
• Rhea Norwood as Imogen Heaney
• Fisayo Akinade as Mr. Ajayi
• Chetna Pandya as Coach Singh
• Olivia Colman as Sarah Nelson

In the penultimate episode of season 2, Ben comes to Charlie with an apology for how he treated him, but Charlie doesn’t accept. Ben tells him that he’s leaving, which will have fans wondering if Sebastian Croft is leaving the show after season 2. Again, we’ll keep fans updated as we learn more official details from Netflix, the cast, and the creator.

In November 2023, Oseman announced that Darragh Hand had officially been cast as Michael Holden in season 3. The character first appeared in Oseman's novel Solitaire as one of the book's main characters and the love interest to Charlie's older sister Tori.

In addition to characters and cast members that have been in the show from the beginning, these other cast members could also return for season 3:

• Leila Khan as Sahar
• Nima Taleghani as Mr. Farouk
• Georgina Rich as Jane Spring
• Joseph Balderrama as Julio Spring
• Momo Yeung as Yan Xu
• Bradley Richaes as James
• Bel Priestley as Naomi
• Ash Self as Felix
• Jack Barton as David Nelson
• Thibault de Montalember as Stephane Nelson

In March 2024, a rumor began swirling that Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey joined the cast of Heartstopper season 3 as Jack Maddox after photos of him seemingly on set began to pop up. In the books, the scholar and author's known as Henry Maddox, and he's a favorite of Nick and Charlie's. Currently, Netflix hasn't confirmed Bailey's casting, but we wouldn't complain at all if (and hopefully when) it becomes official.

Season 3 episode count and book

Just like with the first two seasons, season 3 of Heartstopper is expected to contain another set of eight episodes. Keep in mind, as of October 2023, Netflix has not indicated exactly how many episodes season 3 will have, but it’s a safe bet that the third season will not break tradition with its episode count and remain in line with eight episodes.

According to Vulture, Heartstopper season 2 adapted Heartstopper, Volume 3 by Alice Oseman, and the creator-writer revealed that season 2 included new storylines not featured in the book. Being so, season 3 could be based on Heartstopper, Volume 4.

There are still two more volumes in the Heartstopper graphic novel series to come, as Oseman announced Volume 5, which is to be released in December 2023 and had been intended to be the final tome, will have a follow-up. Volume 6 arrives after the fifth volume. Fingers crossed this means many more seasons on Netflix!

Warning: Spoilers from Heartstopper season 2 beyond this point!

What happened at the end of Heartstopper season 2?

In the season 2 finale cliffhanger, Charlie struggles with deciding whether to fire off a text message to Nick saying “I love you” for the first time. Nick had been super close to saying it to Charlie in person before they had been interrupted by Nick’s mother coming home. If you read the books, you probably know what comes next, but for those who haven’t yet, the question remains: Will Charlie send the message to Nick?

Elsewhere, Elle looks primed to attend the Lambert School of Art after having her art chosen for exhibition and landing a coveted spot at the school. Being so, Tao wants to continue their relationship, especially since they officially defined their relationship with the boyfriend-girlfriend labels. Meanwhile, Tara and Darcy get even closer by saying “I love you” and learning about Darcy’s home life, and Isaac seems open to exploring possibly being asexual and aromantic.

Stay tuned for more Heartstopper season 3 news and updates from Netflix Life, and watch Heartstopper only on Netflix!