Heartstopper has confirmed a major casting change ahead of its upcoming Netflix finale film, with Olivia Colman no longer set to reprise her role as Sarah Nelson.

The feature-length conclusion, titled Heartstopper Forever, is currently in production and scheduled for release later this year. Anna Maxwell Martin will take over the role of Nick Nelson’s mother, marking a significant shift for the series as it approaches its final chapter.

Series creator and writer Alice Oseman explained the decision, stating, “When beginning to work on the Heartstopper Forever screenplay, I knew how important it was that Sarah, Nick’s mum, appeared in the story.” Emphasising the character’s role, Oseman added, “We have seen how close Nick is with his mum; she’s one of the few people he can turn to in moments of crisis… It felt nonsensical for her to be absent from this final chapter, given some of the emotional struggles Nick faces.”

Oseman confirmed that the recast followed scheduling limitations, saying, “Sadly, Olivia Colman was not able to join us for the film, so we made the very difficult decision to recast the role, rather than exclude the character,” while also expressing gratitude for Colman’s previous performance.

Welcoming the new addition, Oseman said, “We are overjoyed to welcome the incredible Anna Maxwell Martin into the role,” noting that she “perfectly embodies Sarah’s gentle, down-to-earth energy” in key scenes alongside Kit Connor.

The film will also feature returning cast members including Kit Connor, Joe Locke, Yasmin Finney and Will Gao, alongside a cameo appearance from Derek Jacobi. Directed by Wash Westmoreland, the story is based on the sixth volume of Oseman’s graphic novel series.

A release date has not yet been confirmed, although the film is expected to premiere after the author’s forthcoming book launch in July.