As the stars of Heartstopper have grown up, so too have their characters, and now the finale movie is poised to be more adult and a whole lot sexier — including mutual masturbation and a “cock sock.”
Stars Kit Connor (Nick) and Joe Locke (Charlie) opened up recently about their thoughts on Heartstopper Forever — set to premiere on Netflix on July 17 — and deciding to show more sex on screen this time around.
“It’s a line that you have to walk: ‘How far are we going to take this?’” Connor told The Guardian. “But at the end of the day, it did feel like these two guys are really attracted to each other at the age where they probably would have been doing it.”
Journalist Michael Cragg described two memorable sex scenes from the film, which included “sexual activity on a pier” and “mutual masturbation,” proving that the movie is far more adult than the previous season of the show.
“There’s a lot more sex, it would be weird if we hadn’t shown it,” Locke said. “Just because our show is a more earnest version of a queer representation doesn’t mean that sex [shouldn’t be shown]. It’s still a big thing for anyone in the world.”
Locke also said that while Nick and Charlie are monogamous, the show isn’t trying to be preachy about that. “I don’t think Heartstopper is ever trying to say anything bad about casual sex,” Locke said. “It’s just nice to see two boys in love.”
Instead of focusing on tragedy like so many LGBTQ+ shows, Heartstopper made the revolutionary choice to put queer and trans joy on screen. That’s not to say that the show hasn’t tackled tough topics — homophobia, eating disorders, and mental health are all explored — but it’s done with a deft hand and the idealism of Nick and Charlie’s romance always shines through.
The movie may not show Nick or Charlie having casual sex, but they still had to deal with the awkwardness of filming sex scene while nearly naked and in a room full of people.
“In a silent room with lots of middle-aged men,” Connor said of the experience before Locke chimed in: “A camera right next to your face while you’re wearing a cock sock.”
Connor said that if he had been the one running the show he would have taken off the rose colored glasses and in favor of realistic relationship drama between the two main characters.
“If I’d had my way, I would have had Nick and Charlie cheating on each other and doing all those stupid things,” Connor said. “Because young people do that and don’t necessarily need to be villainized for it. Heartstopper Forever takes a step in that direction of not being so rose-tinted about being human.”
But with Heartstopper author Alice Oseman at the helm — who has promised a happily ever after — fans can expect any drama between Nick and Charlie will be resolved by the time the credits roll, even if the ending is bittersweet.
“Obviously, Alice [Oseman] knows Heartstopper better than anyone and we would never want to get our grubby little hands on it too much,” Connor said.
Heartstopper Forever premieres on Netflix on July 17, 2026. Watch the trailer below.
