Heartstopper (TV series)

Heartstopper^[1] is a Netflix show based on the webcomic of the same name. It is written by Alice Oseman and produced by Netflix in combination with See-Saw Films. The first season premiered on 22 April 2022.

Background

It was greenlit for production in February 2020. On 20 January 2021, it was publicly announced that the show was a fact. Casting for Nick and Charlie was announced on 22 April 2021 with Oseman hinting that more of the cast will be introduced soon. On 26 April 2021 much of the remaining cast was announced.

The first promotion photos were posted on Alice's Instagram on the 1 March 2022, it included pictures of Charlie Spring, Nick Nelson, Tao Xu, Elle Argent, Tara Jones, and Darcy Olsson. This post also confirmed that the first season of the show would be eight chapters. Netflix uploaded the official trailer^[2] for the show on 16 March 2022. The trailer showed a picture of those from the photos as well as Tori Spring. Heartstopper was released on Netflix on 22 April 2022. ^[3]

On 20 May 2022, Netflix announced that Heartstopper was renewed for two more seasons.^[4]

Synopsis

Charlie, a high-strung, openly gay overthinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, one day are made to sit together at their all-boys school. They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn’t think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is more interested in Charlie than either of them realized. Based on the comic by Alice Oseman.

Plot

Netflix’s Heartstopper series, based on the graphic novels by Alice Oseman, tells the story of two British teens, Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring, at an all-boys grammar school. Charlie, a high-strung, openly gay overthinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, one day are made to sit together in class. Their friendship quickly becomes something more for openly gay Charlie, but he initially does not believe he has a chance with Nick. But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is more interested in Charlie than either of them realized. Heartstopper is about love, friendship, loyalty, and mental illness. It encompasses all the small stories of Nick and Charlie’s lives that together make something larger.

Cast

Kit Connor as Nick Nelson, Charlie’s seatmate in his form class and a popular year 11 rugby star.
Joe Locke as Charlie Spring, a quiet year 10 student at Truham Grammar School for Boys. He’s one of the few openly gay boys at school.
William Gao as Tao Xu, one of Charlie’s two best friends at Truham. He deeply resents Truham’s bullies and just wants to watch cinema.
Yasmin Finney as Elle Argent, a former Truham student who has recently transferred to Higgs Girls School. Charlie and his friends desperately miss seeing artistic, lovable Elle every day — but are happy she’s living her best life.
Corinna Brown as Tara Jones, one of Elle’s new friends at Higgs, who previously kissed Nick as a tween. These days, she’s far more interested in Darcy.
Kizzy Edgell as Darcy Olsson, Elle’s second new friend at Higgs, who has been living as a proudly out queer girl for years.
Jenny Walser as Tori Spring, Charlie's older sister who cares a lot about him.
Cormac Hyde-Corrin as Harry Greene, Truham’s rich, loudmouthed local bully.
Sebastian Croft as Ben Hope, a popular Truham boy who is hiding a secret relationship with Charlie.
Tobie Donovan as Isaac Henderson, affable and always with his nose in a book, Isaac is Charlie’s other best friend at school.
Rhea Norwood as Imogen Heaney, a popular Higgs girl with quite an interest in Nick.
Echo as Nellie, Nick's dog.
Fisayo Akinade as Mr. Ajayi, Charlie's supportive queer teacher.
Chetna Pandya as Coach Singh, the rugby team coach.
Alan Turkington as Mr. Lange
Olivia Colman as Sarah Nelson, Nick's loving mother.
Momo Yeung as Yan Xu, Tao's mother.
Georgina Rich as Jane Spring, Charlie's mother.
Joseph Balderrama as Julio Spring, Charlie's father.
Alice Oseman as herself (cameo)