The After franchise, born from Anna Todd’s Harry Styles-inspired fan fiction on Wattpad, has evolved into a cinematic juggernaut, captivating millions with the stormy romance of Tessa Young and Hardin Scott. What began as a single novel has grown into a sprawling universe, encompassing five films—After (2019), After We Collided (2020), After We Fell (2021), After Ever Happy (2022), and After Everything (2023)—and plans for a prequel and a next-generation sequel. Directed by Castille Landon for its later installments, the series has thrived on fan passion, with posts on X buzzing about its steamy drama and complex characters. Despite critical pans, the franchise’s financial success and dedicated “Afternators” have fueled its expansion, promising new stories that delve into Hardin’s past and his family’s future. Let’s unpack the sequels, prequel, and spinoff shaping the After universe.
The original After film introduced Tessa (Josephine Langford), a studious freshman, and Hardin (Hero Fiennes-Tiffin), a brooding rebel, whose passionate yet volatile relationship set the stage for a saga of love, betrayal, and growth. After We Collided escalated the drama, with Tessa navigating a love triangle and Hardin confronting his demons, grossing over $46 million despite a pandemic release. After We Fell saw the couple relocate to Seattle, tackling family secrets and career challenges, though it faced fan backlash for recasting key roles like Landon Gibson due to COVID-19 production hurdles in Bulgaria.
After Ever Happy, the fourth film, pushed Tessa and Hardin to their breaking point, exploring trauma and reconciliation, with its epilogue introducing their children, Emery and Auden. After Everything, announced by Fiennes-Tiffin in August 2022 via the After movie’s social media, wrapped filming as the fifth installment, focusing on Hardin’s self-discovery post-Tessa. Released on Netflix in January 2024, it soared to the streamer’s top spot, proving the franchise’s enduring appeal.
The sequels’ success, driven by Langford and Fiennes-Tiffin’s chemistry, paved the way for further expansion. In April 2021, director Castille Landon confirmed to Teen Vogue that the After universe was growing with a prequel and a next-generation sequel, both written and directed by her. The prequel, loosely based on Todd’s novella Before, centers on a teenage Hardin before meeting Tessa, exploring his traumatic family life and first love. “He’s gone through a lot of trauma in his relationships, and [we’ll] see more of that messiness,” Landon shared, noting the film will expand the book’s plot into a “larger conversation” about Hardin’s formative years. As it features a younger Hardin, Fiennes-Tiffin will not reprise his role, and no casting has been announced, leaving fans on X speculating about who could capture Hardin’s brooding intensity.
