Kit Connor and newcomer Joe Locke have been cast in the lead roles of Netflix’s adaption of the young adult graphic novels by Alice Osman, Heartstopper. Aside from creating the series, Oseman will take on the role of writer, overseeing the process as filming on the eight part series gets underway.
Kit Connor and newcomer Joe Locke will play the leading roles in in the series which is produced by See-Saw Films and directed by Euros Lyn. Following an open casting that saw over 10,000 people audition, Connor (‘Rocketman’, ‘His Dark Materials’) will play Nick Nelson, a popular year 11 student with a gentle demeanour who befriends Charlie Spring, played by Locke, a highly strung, openly gay over-thinker in the year below. As their friendship blossoms both start to wonder, could there be something more?
Pronounced ‘The queer graphic novel we wished we had at high school’ by the Gay Times, ‘Heartstopper’ is the story of Charlie and Nick who meet at an all-boys school, become friends, and quickly discover a romance is blossoming between them. Over the series Charlie and Nick fall head over heels for each other. Along the way they realise there is a strong community of allies and friends around them, helping them to access their authentic selves, but also teaching them there is no ‘right way’ to come out.
Creator and Writer Alice Oseman said: “Nick and Charlie have existed as characters for almost a decade, and are two of my most beloved characters, so I was slightly apprehensive about the casting search, but I am so happy and excited that we’ve cast Kit and Joe. They’re both so talented, sweet, funny, and smart, and so perfect. It has been such fun getting to know them and welcoming them into the Heartstopper universe, and I can’t wait to see them bring the characters to life on screen.”
Director Euros Lyn (‘Sherlock’, ‘Doctor Who’) said: “I can’t imagine a more perfect pair than Kit and Joe to play Nick and Charlie, and bring their joyous love story to life on screen.”
See-Saw Films’ Executive Producer Patrick Walters said: “Getting to work with Alice, Euros and actors as talented as Kit and Joe on Heartstopper is a dream come true. They both have such passion and consideration for the story and it feels like we are creating something very special. Heartstopper is a celebration of young queer love in all its forms, and we hope audiences will take the actors and this story to their hearts.”
Heartstopper is a See-Saw Films production for Netflix. It is created and written by Alice Oseman, and directed by multi award-winning Euros Lyn (‘Sherlock’, ‘Doctor Who’). The executive producers are See-Saw’s Patrick Walters, Iain Canning and Emile Sherman, alongside Euros Lyn, Jamie Laurenson and Hakan Kousetta. Zorana Piggott is producing the series.
Originally launched as a web comic on Tumblr and Tapas and amassing an extraordinary following, Oseman has since published three book volumes of the Heartstopper series with Vol. 4 publishing this May.
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