Key cast named for See Saw's Netflix drama Heartstopper

Kit Connor and newcomer Joe Locke have been cast to play the leading roles in Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper, produced by See-Saw Films for Netflix, directed by Euros Lyn.

Heartstopper is now filming in the UK until Summer 2021.

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?

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, Oseman has since published three book volumes of the ‘Heartstopper’ series with Vol. 4 publishing this May.