The After film series, born from Anna Todd’s steamy Wattpad fanfiction inspired by Harry Styles, has ignited hearts worldwide with its turbulent tale of Tessa Young and Hardin Scott. Starring Josephine Langford and Hero Fiennes Tiffin, the franchise has delivered five films—After (2019), After We Collided (2020), After We Fell (2021), After Ever Happy (2022), and After Everything (2023)—grossing over $150 million against modest budgets. Fans, affectionately dubbed “Hessa” devotees, have ridden the emotional rollercoaster of Tessa and Hardin’s on-again, off-again romance, but with After Everything billed as their “final chapter,” the burning question lingers: Are more After movies in the works? And will the original cast, particularly Langford and Tiffin, return to stoke the flames of this beloved universe? Drawing on recent updates, cast insights, and fan fervor, this essay explores the franchise’s future, revealing a world poised for expansion with tantalizing possibilities for its stars, inviting you to dive back into the passion and drama of After.
The After universe is far from finished, with two confirmed projects—a prequel and a sequel—set to extend its legacy, as announced in April 2021 by Deadline [web:1]. The prequel, Before, based on Todd’s 2015 novella, will explore a teenage Hardin Scott’s life before meeting Tessa, delving into his trauma and family struggles. Director Castille Landon, who helmed After We Fell, After Ever Happy, and After Everything, told Teen Vogue that Before will offer a “larger conversation” with an expanded plot, focusing on Hardin’s formative years [web:2]. Since it features a younger Hardin, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, now 27, won’t reprise his role, as Landon confirmed [web:1].ory [web:3]. These updates signal a vibrant future, even if After Everything closed the main Hessa arc.
What about the original cast? Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Josephine Langford, the beating heart of After, have left fans hopeful yet uncertain about their involvement. Tiffin, who brought Hardin’s brooding intensity to life, has been coy but open. In an August 2022 Instagram video, he announced After Everything’s completion, calling it a “massive” moment [web:0]. On the set of After Everything, he told The Direct, “Never say never,” but added, “Eventually, I think I have to step back and let someone else come and take the story or a spin-off or something” [web:3]. His sentiment reflects a deep attachment—After is “always going to be a part of my life”—but suggests he’s ready to pass the torch, especially for stories not centered on Hardin. Langford, whose portrayal of Tessa’s strength and vulnerability earned praise, was similarly bittersweet.
In a March 2021 TooFab interview, she called filming the final two films “really bittersweet” but admitted, “It doesn’t really feel like it’s over yet” [web:0]. She told StyleCaster in September 2021, “I would want to come back if it was important, and it made sense,” hinting at openness to a meaningful return [web:22]. Neither has confirmed involvement in Before or Next Generation, but J-14 notes their potential as Tessa and Hardin in the sequel, given its focus on their kids [web:0]. Fans on X, echoing posts like @FilmUpdates’ 2021 announcement [post:1], speculate cameos or supporting roles, with one user writing, “Hessa as parents? I need Hero and Jo back!”
The After franchise’s expansion hinges on its passionate fanbase, which has driven its success despite critical pans for glamorizing toxic dynamics [web:6]. After grossed $69.7 million on a $14 million budget, and while After Everything earned just $8 million domestically, the series’ streaming dominance on Netflix keeps it alive [web:18]. Landon credits the fandom’s “input” as inspiration, noting their love for Emery, Auden, and Addy fuels Next Generation [web:2].
