Netflix's feel-good coming-of-age romcom Heartstopper found monumental success across its first two seasons, and it has already been green-lit for season 3. The LGBTQ+ romance series follows UK teen Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) during his time at Truham Grammar School. He soon finds himself fostering a crush on classmate Nick Nelson (Kit Connor). Nick goes on his own formative arc before accepting his sexuality and comes out to his mother (Olivia Colman) in the Heartstopper season 1 finale.

The series is based on Alice Oseman's delightful graphic novel series of the same name. Heartstopper season 1 covered the first two volumes of Oseman's series, whereas season 2 followed the gang's trip to Paris which takes place in volume 3. After season 2 premiered on Netflix, Heartstopper season 3 news began trickling through the cracks, promising to continue Charlie's uplifting story. Since updates regarding the installment are sparse, audiences can only guess what will happen to Charlie following season 2, but a look at Oseman's comics and the plot of the second season could glean some answers.

Heartstopper Season 3 Latest News

A Season 3 Trailer Is Revealed

As the third season's October release date gets closer, Netflix has revealed a full-length trailer for Heartstopper season 3. Opening with a cute scene on the beach between Nick and Charlie, the trailer then delves into the ensemble's anxieties as they struggle with relationships and the confusing world around them. Charlie's personal issues take center stage as his friends and family express concern, but aren't exactly sure how to help him. Intimacy is also a main focus of the trailer as each couple finds that the world of love is more complicated than it seems.

Heartstopper Season 3 Release Date

The Romance Series Returns In October

With fans excited for news regarding the episodes, Netflix revealed a release window for the third season of Heartstopper that promised the show would arrive in October 2024. Finally, the streamer established a more concrete date and announced that Heartstopper season 3 will premiere on October 3, 2024. All 8 episodes will be available on that date.

Heartstopper season 2 dropped all of its episodes on August 3, 2023.

The Heartstopper Season 3 Cast

Jonathan Bailey & Hayley Atwell Season 3

It's all but guaranteed that the original Heartstopper cast will reprise their roles. The Heartstopper season 3 cast will include leads Joe Locke as Charlie Spring and Kit Connor as Nick Nelson. Darragh Hand has officially been added to the cast of season 3 as Michael Holden. Another new addition is Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey who will appear in season 3 as Jack Maddox, a scholar of historical literature.

In March 2024, Olivia Colman announced she wouldn't be returning as Nick's mom for season 3, but the cast added MCU alum Hayley Atwell as Nick's aunt, Diane. Another new face for season 3 is Eddie Marsan who has been tapped to play Nick's therapist, Geoff.

Other cast who are expected to return include:

How The Heartstopper Season 2 Finale Sets Up Season 3

A Major Cliffhanger Ending

The Heartstopper season 2 ending has implications for the trajectory of season 3, as some of the story threads diverged slightly or were added onto Oseman's webcomic. After a horrible dinner with his estranged father and older brother, Nick decides to come out officially and posts a picture of him and Charlie as a couple. The Heartstopper season 3 story will likely see Nick and Charlie's relationship no longer a secret. In addition, the Heartstopper season 2 finale hinted that Charlie's eating disorder would be a bigger topic in season 3.

Darcy's traumatic home life was also explored in the Heartstopper season 2 penultimate episode, and it was revealed that she hasn't come out to her homophobic parents. The sophomore season also saw Isaac step into a bigger role as he experiments with his sexuality by kissing Isaac, but realizes that he may be asexual. In addition, the revelation that Elle will be attending the Lambert School of Art in season 3 was one of the more shocking moments of the season 2 finale, jeopardizing her relationship with Tao.

Heartstopper Season 3 Story Details

Season 3 Will Likely Adapt Volume 4 Of The Comics

Volume 4 sees troubling times for Nick and Charlie, as Charlie struggles with an eating disorder and self-harm.

Since Heartstopper season 1 followed volumes 1 and 2 of Oseman's story, and season 2 chronicled volume 3, it can be guessed that the Heartstopper season 3 story will cover volume 4. There isn't any Heartstopper season 3 news regarding a potential story, and audiences will have to glean what they can from season 2 with the extraneous plot threads that Oseman added to flesh out the narrative. Volume 4 sees troubling times for Nick and Charlie, as Charlie struggles with an eating disorder and self-harm. It's fair to guess that Heartstopper season 3 may take a more serious tone.

Heartstopper Season 3 Trailer

Watch The Full Trailer Below

Less than a month before the show's return in early October, Netflix revealed a full-length trailer for Heartstopper season 3. The nearly three-minute trailer opens with a scene on the beach where Charlie watches his friends enjoy themselves while staying distant. This sets the tone for the rest of the trailer as everyone around Charlie expresses their concern for his well-being, and Nick isn't sure how to help him. Elsewhere, all the show's couples struggle with intimacy, and they learn that life is only getting more complex as they get older.