Director: Wash Westmoreland
Starring: Kit Connor, Joe Locke, William Gao, Anna Maxwell Martin, Yasmin Finney, Tobie Donovan, Rhea Norwood, Jenny Walser, Fisayo Akinade, Corinna Brown, Bradley Riches
Production Company: See-Saw Films, Netflix
Kent Locations Used: Herne Bay, Herne Bay Pier
Heartstopper Forever (2026) is a feature length finale of the rom-com coming-of-age series Heartstopper (2022-). With Nick getting ready to leave for university and Charlie taking on new responsibilities at school, will their relationship survive?
Based on the graphic novels by Kent-born Alice Oseman, the film is directed by Wash Westmoreland (Still Alice, Colette) and stars Kit Connor (SS-GB (2017), His Dark Materials) as Nick Nelson and Joe Locke (Agatha All Along) as Charlie Spring. Supporting cast includes William Gao (Sunrise, Breakwater) as Tao, Anna Maxwell Martin (A Spy Among Friends (2022), Bleak House (2005)) as Nick’s mum Sarah – replacing Olivia Colman – Yasmin Finney (Doctor Who, Life Hack) as Elle, Tobie Donovan (Lynley) as Isaac, Rhea Norwood (Consent, Your Christmas or Mine 2) as Imogen, Jenny Walser (Sweetpea, The Next Level) as Tori Spring, Charlie’s sister, Fisayo Akinade (The Girl with All the Gifts, The Personal History of David Copperfield) as Mr Ajayi, Corinna Brown (The Summer I Turned Pretty, In Flight) as Tara and Bradley Riches (Emmerdale, Wreck) as James.
Production visited Herne Bay to film on the beach, Neptune’s Arm, Neptune Car Park and Herne Bay Pier, in homage to the final scene of Series 1, when Nick and Charlie decide to go public about their relationship whilst visiting Herne Bay beach, and where they rekindle their relationship in this film.
Herne Bay is a coastal resort which is home to the world’s first free-standing purpose-built clock tower. Herne Bay Beach is a shingle beach, lined with beach huts stretching from Herne Bay to the Yacht Club at Hampton Pier. On a fine day, there are views to Reculver to the east and Whitstable, Isle of Sheppey, and Southend to the west. Recent productions to have filmed there include My Sister’s Bones (2026), Joan (2024) and Tell That to the Winter Sea (2024).
Herne Bay Pier houses a thriving business community operating out of beach hut style stores, various fairground rides and a small soundstage for music events. Black Mirror: Season 7 – Eulogy (2025) also filmed on Herne Bay Pier.
Heartstopper: Forever (2026) was released on Netflix on Friday 17th July 2026.
For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.
