AceShowbiz - Heartstopper creator Alice Oseman recently provided an update regarding the upcoming movie finale of the popular YA series, revealing that fans will have to wait a little longer before it becomes available on Netflix.

During an appearance at the London Book Fair held at Kensington Olympia, Oseman—who is also the author and illustrator of the graphic novels on which the series is based—confirmed that the movie, titled Heartstopper Forever, will not be released before the final book in her series, which is set to launch on July 2.

When asked about the movie’s release date during a Q&A session, Oseman explained, "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."

Heartstopper has garnered widespread acclaim for its significant cultural impact across television, social media, music, and literature, particularly due to its strong focus on LGBTQ+ representation. The series has cultivated a devoted fanbase of readers, and Oseman has consistently emphasized her preference for the book’s release to precede the movie.

Filming for the Heartstopper Forever movie, directed by Wash Westmoreland, wrapped up last July. Since then, the project has been moving steadily through post-production.

Oseman shared, "We are literally days away from it being finished. We are doing the final little bits of VFX and animation, and hopefully by the end of next week it’s going to be sent to be dubbed in various languages and quality-checked by Netflix, but my work on it will be done."

The feature film will conclude the story of Heartstopper, which follows the tender queer romance between British students Charlie Spring, portrayed by Joe Locke, and Nick Nelson, played by Kit Connor, as they navigate their journey into young adulthood. The TV series, based on Oseman’s graphic novels, first premiered on Netflix in 2022.

Specific plot details for the movie remain under wraps, but the synopsis for the final book offers a glimpse into the story’s direction: "Everyone in school knows Nick and Charlie. Everyone knows they're going to be together forever. But Charlie's busy with his bid to become head boy. And while Nick is preparing to leave for uni, he's starting to wonder who he'll be... without Charlie."

Produced by See Saw Films, the series concluded after three seasons last year. It has been recognized as a standout among young-adult dramas, consistently driving streaming viewership among younger audiences. Despite the critical success, the third season saw a 30% drop in ratings, which led to doubts about a fourth season. Instead, Netflix commissioned the movie to provide closure to Nick and Charlie’s story.

Oseman, who is also known for other YA novels such as Solitaire, Radio Silence, and I Was Born For This!, has been deeply involved with the adaptation process. She recounted her initial pitch of the series to Netflix alongside executive producer Patrick Walters of See-Saw TV, highlighting a perceived gap in the market for a YA series centered on a young queer male couple. Oseman noted that Netflix was enthusiastic about the concept.

Initially, Oseman self-published the Heartstopper graphic novels with Kickstarter funding. The series, consisting of four novels, was later published by Hachette Children's Group earlier this year.

At the London Book Fair, Oseman was warmly received during her keynote interview. She was honored as the event’s Creative of the Fair and received the YA Book Prize Special Achievement Award from the trade publication The Bookseller.

The London Book Fair commenced this year in London and will continue until March 12. Next year, the event is scheduled to move to the ExCel Centre, located on the opposite side of London.