In less than a month, Heartstopper became a global phenomenon. Netflix's amazing little eight-episode streaming TV show about two teenage best friends who fall in love took the world by storm in 2022, earning itself critical acclaim, Emmy Awards, and an adoring, devoted fanbase. One watch of the first season and it's so easy to see why.
In the two years since, it has continued to evolve and grow as audiences have fallen in love with the core cast members and the lovable characters they play. Stars Joe Locke and Kit Connor's careers have skyrocketed but they always make time in their busy schedules to return for more episodes. And after the response to season 3 in October, fans are ready for more episodes.
That being said, Heartstopper is in uncharted territory now. The show hasn't gone for more than a month without a renewal (it was previously renewed for two seasons exactly one month after the first season premiered), but we're coming up on two months since season 3 premiered now and Netflix has yet to reveal if it will return. And now, a new update from one of its stars has left some fans feeling a little concerned.
Kit Connor isn't sure if Heartstopper season 4 is happening
Heartstopper star Kit Connor recently took part in The Hollywood Reporter's "Next Gen Talent 2024" list and the profile tells readers that the star isn't sure if the show will be back for another outing. It reads:
"Connor, 20, isn't sure if Heartstopper will return for a fourth season"The Hollywood Reporter
It's important to note that there is still a very good chance of Heartstopper returning for a fourth season, but fans have been a little concerned this time around as it is the first time that the show has gone this long without a renewal.
After the success of season 1, the show was renewed for a second and third season, so this wait for a fourth season announcement is rather new for them. And yet, after the success of the show's third season, it's understandable that they thought a renewal might have come by now. The fact that Connor doesn't know yet suggests that Netflix have not yet made a decision (or at least announced it to those involved).
But there is a lot for Netflix to take into account here when it comes to ordering a renewal. The cast has been extremely busy since becoming overnight sensations (Connor is busy on Broadway and will then have to promote some of his upcoming films, while costar Joe Locke recently joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Agatha All Along), so new deals would have to be worked out that would ensure all of them could return for another season. And given how their workload has increased over these past two years, finding time in their schedules that all line up might not be as easy as before. It would certainly be doable, but it just might take more time to make it happen (hence any possible delays).
Heartstopper season 4 would likely be the final season
There is also the fact that a potential fourth season of Heartstopper would likely be the final season to take into account. Creator Alice Oseman has been vocal about wanting to bring the show to a worthy conclusion and that a fourth season would likely be the place to do that. Oseman then confirmed as much on a recent episode of Tommy DiDario's podcast I've Never Said This Before, saying that it would "for sure" be the final season if they got that season 4 renewal. They were also hopeful that the show would get that renewal, adding:
"I really really just want to tell the end of the story on TV and bring all of those characters, their stories, to a close... So fingers crossed."
As for what the rest of the cast are doing in the meantime, Connor is currently starring in Broadway's modernized version of Romeo and Juliet, and told The Hollywood Reporter that he is eager to "take a little break" after his current stint of roles to "cleanse mind and palette" before then doing something completely different. And honestly, that's completely understandable given how meteoric - and fast - his rise has been. Some downtime is more than earned - especially if Heartstopper returns for another round of eight episodes.
Locke's other series, Agatha All Along, just completed a critically-acclaimed nine-episode run on Disney Plus. As it is a miniseries, a second season is not expected, but Locke is now a part of the biggest franchise in the world, so you can bet that he will be back on screens in another MCU project very soon - especially given that there are already rumors of his character getting his own series and / or even starring in a Young Avengers project.
Here's hoping that the pair will reunite on a fourth season of Heartstopper that would bring the beautiful story of Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring to a close.