Heartstopper star exit confirmed ahead of season 3
Heartstopper season 2 spoilers follow.
Heartstopper star Sebastian Croft has confirmed that he has exited the Netflix series as Ben Hope.
The character has been a central part of the show's storyline, having previously been involved in a toxic relationship with Charlie Spring (Joe Locke).
In the newly-released second season, Ben's arc ends with him revealing to Charlie that he will be leaving Truham, and apologises to him for his past behaviour.
Related: How Heartstopper's Ben dodged the redemption arc pitfall
However, Charlie doesn't let him off the hook, detailing how his toxic behaviour has affected him, and Croft has expressed gladness that his "incredibly complicated" character wasn't given a simple redemptive conclusion.
"[Creator] Alice [Oseman] and I both felt strongly about him not having a redemption arc," he told Tudum. "It's a really beautiful way of having these two people who have been through a lot – and Ben's been horrible to Charlie – to have that conversation and explore it on a deeper level than I felt like we got to do in Season 1."
Ben's storyline ends with him outside the Lambert queer art show, the character rejecting an animated rainbow ocean doodle appearing on screen.
Related: Heartstopper creator Alice Oseman teases season 2 scene that wasn’t in the books
"I really wanted Ben to have a Heartstopper moment in some way," Croft explained. "I see this beautiful world of Heartstopper and then Ben who can't be welcomed in… I feel like lots of people would connect with that feeling of being scared to become part of the community and where you fit in."
Speaking about giving Ben a bigger role than in the original comics, Oseman said they wanted to "broaden and expand the story".
"As Season 2 begins to unpack the trauma that Charlie carries with him due to his toxic relationship with Ben and the bullying he has faced in the past, I felt Ben's presence was necessary to properly address those topics," the creator explained.
Oseman added that it would have been "needlessly cruel" for Charlie to offer Ben "any form of redemption arc on-screen".
Related: Heartstopper reminds us coming out is more complicated than you think
“Particularly as the aftershocks of Ben's manipulation are still causing Charlie pain," the writer said. "Ben can become a better person, but Charlie should not have to witness that, endorse it, or offer any forgiveness. And so he won't."
Oseman also praised their "incredible friend" Croft, saying: "He took on possibly the toughest role in the show and executed it with such intelligence and determination."
The show creator added: "We were in constant debate about finding the line between Ben being unrealistically demonic and too sympathetic.
"I feel we found that line and I am so proud and honored that Sebastian has been a part of Heartstopper. I know that he'll go on to do incredible things, and I will be cheering from the sidelines all the way."
Heartstopper seasons 1-2 are streaming now on Netflix.
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