Heartstopper Forever gets release date update from Alice Oseman

Heartstopper creator Alice Oseman has provided a new update on the release of the Netflix series’ movie finale Heartstopper Forever. 

Oseman shared that the forthcoming film will not be released before her final book is published. The writer and illustrator of the graphic novels was speaking at the London Book Fair on Tuesday (10 March).

Answering Deadline‘s question about the film’s release date, Oseman shared: “It won’t be coming out before the book.

“It was so important to me that the book comes out first, so people can experience the end of the story in the book. The series was the adaptation, not the other way around.”

Oseman’s final book in the series, Heartstopper Volume 6, will be released on 2 July in the UK, and 7 July in America and Canada. So we have a few months to wait before the film hits the streaming platform.

The books and show have chronicled the teen love story of Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) and Charlie Spring (Joe Locke).

The film, based on Volume 6 and the novella Nick and Charlie, will see the young couple face new challenges.

“Nick and Charlie are inseparable, but with Nick preparing to leave for university and Charlie finding new independence at school, the reality of a long-distance relationship begins to weigh on them,” a synopsis of the film reads.

‘It was so important to me that the book comes out first.’

“Doubts take hold, and their relationship faces its biggest challenge yet. Meanwhile, their friends are also navigating the ups and downs of love and friendship, confronting the bittersweet challenges of growing up and moving on. Can first loves really last forever?”

Locke and Connor were spotted over the summer filming scenes at Leeds train station, suggesting that Nick chooses to attend Leeds University.

Speaking about progress on the film, Oseman noted it’s in the final post-production stages.

“We are literally days away from it being finished,” the writer noted.

“We are doing the final little bits of VFX and animation, and hopefully by the end of next week is going to be sent to be dubbed in various languages and quality-checked by Netflix, but my work on it will be done.”

Previously speaking about the film, Oseman shared she was “very nervous” about the fan reaction.

“I’m very nervous and scared about what you’ll think of it… but that’s probably normal! 2026 will be a big year for Heartstopper,” Oseman shared in December.

Heartstopper seasons one, two and three are streaming now on Netflix.