Alice Oseman opens up about Heartstopper’s final chapter: ‘It’s okay to want that happy ending’
Alice Oseman bids farewell to Heartstopper. (Patch Studio)
As Alice Oseman bids farewell to Heartstopper, the writer reflects on the legacy of the beloved LGBTQ+ tale.
Before it became a globally adored Netflix smash hit, Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper had humble beginnings as a Tumblr comic. Ten years have gone by, and while Heartstopper has shapeshifted from comic to show to film, one thing has remained: Oseman has always held the pen. That remains true for Heartstopper’s final chapter, which arrives with Heartstopper Volume 6’s release and the upcoming adaptation, Heartstopper Forever.
For Oseman, translating the sweet teenage infatuation of Charlie (Joe Locke) and Nick (Kit Connor) into a film format was an exciting prospect. “Rather than individual half-hour segments, you’re spending almost two hours non-stop with the Heartstopper gang,” the author says exclusively to PinkNews. “It allowed me to take Heartstopper to a more dramatic place and to take Nick and Charlie on quite an intense rollercoaster!”
Oseman spoke to PinkNews about the bittersweet reality of concluding this hopeful tale of LGBTQ+ youth, the last day on set with the cast and what stories she wants to tell next. Minor spoilers for Heartstopper Volume 6 ahead.
PinkNews: At what point did you decide on the ending of Heartstopper? Was the final moment with the memory photo album always the last imagery, or did you have any alternative endings?
Alice Oseman: For the past few years, I’ve known that I want the story to end when Nick leaves for university and Nick and Charlie’s school life together is over. But the specifics of those final pages didn’t come together until I started writing Volume 6. There were never any other alternative endings, though – as soon as I had the idea for the memory book, I knew it was the one.
‘There’s always light at the end of the tunnel’
The Heartstopper universe is a safe place for LGBTQ+ youth. How important is the idea of hope to this story?
Joy and hope and optimism have been key elements of Heartstopper from the beginning. I’m so happy that the story has been able to give those things to young people, particularly young queer people.
We need to see a huge range of queer stories being told in all mediums – the answer is always more when it comes to questions of representation – but, with Heartstopper, I specifically wanted to create a space that didn’t shy away from the difficult, authentic life experiences of queer young people but ultimately expressed that everything would be okay and that there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.
It’s okay to want that happy ending and I’m just so moved to know Heartstopper has helped so many people, young and old, find joy and comfort along the way. I hope it continues to be that safe place for people.
‘It’s really valuable to see a couple who hasn’t quite figured everything out’
Volume 6 brings adolescent challenges to the fore, including the breakup of Tao (William Gao) and Elle (Yasmin Finney). Why did you want to bring these into the plot?
Heartstopper explores so many themes, experiences and feelings of teenage life and I wanted to ensure it was an authentic portrayal of the ups and downs of adolescence, break-ups included. Tao and Elle are in a similar situation to Nick and Charlie with the threat of long distance looming ahead of them, but in contrast to Nick and Charlie, they realise that they will struggle much more intensely with that scenario.
I think it’s really valuable to see a couple who hasn’t quite figured everything out by the time they turn 18. Life doesn’t end when you leave school, and Tao and Elle have their whole lives ahead of them to figure out what their relationship means and whether there’s a way to rekindle things in the future.
‘The last day on set felt like the last day of school’
This is the last time we’ll see Joe and Kit play Charlie and Nick. How was it for you to say goodbye to these characters while watching the actors bid them farewell?
It’s all a bit emotional! It’s so bittersweet to say goodbye to Nick and Charlie as characters. I’ve been drawing them for over 10 years and they feel like family to me. I’m so pleased I could end it in exactly the way I wanted to, giving them the ending they (and the fans!) deserve but it’s still a difficult farewell.
As for Kit and Joe, and the rest of the incredible cast in the adaptation… it was emotional for them too! The last day on set felt like the last day of school – everyone about to leave and embark on their own futures in different directions. I’m so happy that Heartstopper has allowed them all to form such beautiful friendships, and it’s really reassuring to know that they’ll continue to support each other as they enter the next stage of their lives. I’ve always felt a sense of parental care for the cast, so it’s exciting to see what they have been working on outside of Heartstopper and I can’t wait to see what they do next.
‘Who knows what will be next’
What is your favourite Volume 6 scene in its translation from page to screen?
It’s so hard to choose! One of my favourites is probably the Leavers Ball. It looks a little visually different to the book scene, but the film perfectly captures the spirit of the book scene with all of the characters having an incredible time celebrating together. It’s a farewell moment for the characters in the story, but also from the characters to us, the audience. I can’t wait for people to see it.
The Heartstopper journey began in 2016. What’s been the biggest lesson the Heartstopper world has taught you in the past 10 years?
Confidence to trust my own voice. Before all this happened, I’d never worked in a team, so this process has enabled me to collaborate in a new way and also trust myself and my creative vision, finding the confidence to back my decisions and say how I think things should be. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to do that at the start.
The end of Heartstopper marks a new chapter for you. Do you have an idea of what sorts of stories you want to tell next?
I really don’t! The last 10 years have been a whirlwind so I’m going to take some time to rest, maybe go on a holiday, relax, enjoy engaging in other people’s art and hopefully become inspired along the way. I feel excited by the prospect of working across mediums – books, graphic novels, film and TV – there are lots of possibilities out there, but who knows what will be next.
Heartstopper Volume 6 by Alice Oseman is out now (Hodder, £14.99)
Heartstopper Forever arrives on Netflix on 17 July.
