Joe Locke says Heartstopper S3 will deal with darker issues

Heartstopper star Joe Locke says the new season of the hit Netflix romantic drama will be "more grown-up" with a focus on mental health.

The story, which explores teen crushes and sexuality, through Charlie Spring, a high school student in Kent, England, is slated to premiere on October 3.

"It's definitely a more grown-up season... We deal with darker issues, Charlie's mental health is a big focus. And it’s still Heartstopper, so there's always the light at the end of the tunnel, which is a really great way of dealing with issues like that,” he told Deadline.

The first season of Heartstopper was released on April 22, 2022, and the second on August 3, 2023. The series is an adaptation of Alice Oseman's webcomic and graphic novel of the same name. The series follows the story of Charlie and Nick, who meet at the school and eventually realise that their friendship has bloomed into an unexpected romance. Kit Connor and Joe Locke essay the roles of Nick and Charlie, respectively.

The official synopsis of the upcoming season reads, "Charlie would like to tell Nick that he loves him. Nick also has something important to say to Charlie. As the summer holiday ends and the months race on, the friends realise that the school year will come with its joys and challenges. As they learn more about each other and their relationships, plan social events and parties and start thinking about university choices, everyone must learn to lean on those they love when life doesn't go to plan".

Apart from the leading duo, the series also features William Gao as Tao Xu, Yasmin Finney as Elle Argent, Corinna Brown as Tara Jones, Kizzy Edgell as Darcy Olsson, and Sebastian Croft as Benjamin, among others.