Will There Be a Heartstopper Season 3 Now That SAG Strike is in Effect?
There is a good chance the beloved series will arrive on time.
Since May, Hollywood has been in turmoil due to the ongoing WGA strike, as thousands of writers halted work on new scripts. That has resulted in the shutdown of numerous eagerly anticipated films and series and the subsequent delay of their release dates. The situation got even worse last month when SAG-AFTRA joined the strike, with actors refusing not only to star in projects but also to promote them, leading to further delays. Amidst all this, fans began to question if Netflix's top LGBTQ+ romantic series, Heartstopper, might be impacted by the strike.
Indeed, streaming services, much like Hollywood studios, are struggling because of the strike. Netflix had to delay the production of Stranger Things because the Duffer Brothers supported the strike. However, it would appear that Heartstopper might help the streaming giant weather out the strikes next year.
According to Alice Oseman, the author of the original Heartstopper graphic novels and the show's lead writer, she is continuing to work on the script for Season 3 and plans to finish it before production commences in the near future. But how is this possible with both the WGA and SAG on strike?
The thing is, both of these guilds are predominantly American institutions. Although Heartstopper is produced by Netflix, the show is filmed in the UK and employs British writers and actors. Oseman herself is a British citizen and has no affiliation with the WGA, just as Kit Connor and Joe Locke are not associated with SAG.
So because its cast and writers are British, Heartstopper won't be affected by the ongoing strikes in the US. The actors work under the Equity contract, which prevents British actors from striking in solidarity with American guilds.
Undoubtedly, Netflix is likely thrilled with this turn of events, as one of its most popular shows will be able to premiere on schedule next year, ensuring that Heartstopper fans renew their Netflix subscriptions.
While the show has already been renewed for a third season, fans and critics have yet to share their thoughts on season two, which started streaming on Netflix today.