The After film franchise has been popular since its 2019 debut, but Josephine Langford who played Tessa, was barely present in the final installment, After Everything. The films followed Tessa and Hardin's complicated romantic journey, but this final film took a detour in the storyline. Rather than focusing on the couple that dominated the first movies, After Everything focuses on Hardin attempting to make amends with an ex-girlfriend of his named Natalie, with whom he was childhood friends. Hardin leaked her sex tape when they were younger, which caused her to lose her scholarship and move to London.

The movie focuses on Hardin's personal growth and desire to become a better person, rather than on him and Tessa. The ending of After Everything satisfyingly answered the biggest question of whether Tessa and Hardin end up together. However, Tessa's absence cannot be ignored. Though Hardin's complicated backstory was interesting, the After series is built around Tessa, and it felt like a glaring issue that she was not a part of the final movie. Considering how impactful Tessa was to the franchise, it is natural that there is much curiosity surrounding Josephine Langford's unexpected absence.

After Everything Is Entirely From Hardin's Perspective, Not Tessa's

Tessa's Limited Role In After Everything Makes Sense

Though disappointing given how involved Tessa has been in the After series, her limited role in After Everything makes sense. Tessa has been a central character of the After books and films since their beginning, serving as the main female protagonist. Audiences had the opportunity to see her relationship with Hardin grow and change, which is why it was surprising that her role was so limited in After Everything. Given the storyline, though, it does seem natural that Tessa takes a step back in After Everything and viewers see her much less.

It serves as an opportunity to highlight Hardin's personal growth, rather than one that takes another look at Tessa's story.

This is because After Everything is entirely told from Hardin's perspective, instead of Tessa's. The past films were all either from Tessa's perspective or split between her and Hardin's, which is why viewers saw much more of her. This film is much more focused on Hardin's journey to make amends with someone he hurt in the past. It serves as an opportunity to highlight Hardin's personal growth, rather than one that takes another look at Tessa's story.

After Everything Isn't Based On An Anna Todd Book

Langford Also Expressed That She'd Only Return If It Made Sense

Part of the reason for this shift in point of view is because, unlike the previous movies, After Everything is not based on a book by Anna Todd. Todd first wrote the After series on Wattpad, and it started as fan fiction based on Harry Styles and the band One Direction. The series was then published by Gallery Books, which is an imprint of Simon & Schuster. The first four books in the After movie series were based on books that Todd wrote and that were published.

This deviation from the source material into entirely new creative territory likely played a part in Langford's very diminished role in After Everything and why there was a switch to Hardin's point of view.

This was not the case, however, for After Everything. Instead, the story was created later after seeing the movie series' large amount of success. This meant the actors had originally only signed on for four movies rather than five. This deviation from the source material into entirely new creative territory likely played a part in Langford's very diminished role in After Everything and why there was a switch to Hardin's point of view.

In an interview with StyleCaster in 2021, Langford expressed that she would only return to the franchise if it made sense and was important. She explained that she does not believe in a character or actor overstaying their welcome and unnecessary returns of characters can harm a franchise. Given this sentiment, it is very possible that Langford chose not to renew her contract and return to the franchise following the conclusion of the fourth movie. She explained:

“I would want to come back if it was important, and it made sense. I’m not a fan of overstaying your welcome. It can sometimes dampen a good thing if you’re creating something and it’s canon, and it doesn’t have a reason. I would be very, very, very happy to come back under the right circumstance and if it made sense."

Josephine Langford's After Everything Cameo Explained

She's Only In 15 Minutes Of After Everything

Although Josephine Langford's Tessa is seen significantly less in After Everything than in prior films, she still plays a role within the film. Tessa was in After Everything for about 15 minutes and can be seen during the proposal scene. She is also seen through flashbacks through Hardin's memories, but these scenes utilize old footage from the previous four films. While it was not a significant cameo, it confirms to viewers that Tessa is still a part of Hardin's life (though in a much more limited role than in the books) and that she is doing well.

How Did Tessa's Absence Affect The Film's Reception?

The Decision To Sideline Tessa In After Everything Didn't Sit Well With Fans

Tessa's limited presence in After Everything significantly impacted the movie's reception, particularly among fans who had followed the series closely. As the final installment in the After series, expectations were high for a conclusive and satisfying resolution to Tessa and Hardin's tumultuous relationship. However, the decision to sideline Tessa for the majority of the film and focus on Hardin's personal struggles and misadventures did not sit well with audiences. This shift led to a sense of imbalance in the narrative, which veered away from the central theme of their relationship that had been the series' cornerstone.

The portrayal of Hardin's character without a counterbalancing perspective from Tessa made the film feel one-dimensional and significantly less engaging.

Longtime fans were deprived of witnessing the key moments that would have provided a fulfilling closure to the couple's journey. Instead, the film abruptly jumps to a future where Tessa and Hardin are shown with children, skipping over significant life events such as their marriage and the birth of their kids, which only added to the frustration and left many feeling the final movie was the weakest link in the series. The film's reception suffered not only from Tessa's absence but also from the narrative choices that seemed to undermine the growth and development expected in a concluding saga.

After Everything had the lowest box office gross of the franchise (via The Numbers).

The portrayal of Hardin's character without a counterbalancing perspective from Tessa made the film feel one-dimensional and significantly less engaging. Additionally, the rushed ending and lack of meaningful resolution contributed to a general consensus that the movie failed to deliver the emotional depth and relational dynamics that fans had come to anticipate. As the franchise is an example of diminishing returns when it comes to the critical consensus, After Everything is in keeping with that sentiment and is considered the worst in the series.

What Josephine Langford Has Done Since After Everything

The After Franchise Star Leads The Cast Of The Other Zoey

Australian actress Josephine Langford was born in 1997, and starring as Tess Young in the After franchise came relatively early on in her career. Previously she'd appeared in the 2017 supernatural horror Wish Upon in a minor role as Darcie, in single episodes of the 2017 show Wolf Creek and 2019's Into the Dark. Appearing in After as Tessa in 2019 was a breakout role for Langford, and since her cameo in 2023's After Everything she has only had one movie appearance.

Since she last played Tessa in the After movies, Josephine Langford's only other movie role was as Zoey Miller in 2023's The Other Zoey. Directed by Sara Zandieh, The Other Zoey was a rom-com with a limited theatrical release that eventually found its way to Amazon Prime Video. Critics responded to it relatively positively, and it currently has an 86% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 78% audience rating.

What's Next For The After Franchise

Multiple New After Movies Are Being Planned

There hasn't been a new After movie since the release of 2023's After Everything. However, while the After Everything ending seemed to wrap up Tessa and Hardin's story, there are going to be new films in the series, and two are currently being developed. Fans of the After franchise have both a sequel and a prequel to look forward to, though neither Josephine Langford or Hero Fiennes-Tiffin are likely to return.

Both of the new After movies are being helmed by writer-director Castille Landon, who directed After We Fell, After Ever Happy, and wrote and directed After Everything. This should ensure some creative continuity as the After series moves beyond the original novels by Anna Todd and into original stories.

The next film in the After series is tipped to arrive in 2025, and is a prequel. Titled Before, the After prequel will explore a younger Hardin's character. Tessa won't be present at all, and the focus will be more on Hardin's family life and trauma than a romantic narrative. It's been revealed that Hero Fiennes-Tiffin won't be returning to play Hardin, though this is entirely due to Before featuring Hardin at a much younger age.

Outside the 2025 prequel, there's also a sequel to After Everything in the works. However, the next story in the timeline won't focus on Tessa and Hardin but on their children, Emery and Auden. Landon has revealed little of the story of the After Everything sequel, however. All that's known so far is that Emery and Auden will have to deal with some kind of ramifications from Tessa and Hardin's story in the earlier After movies.