Just when fans believed After Everything had finally reached emotional closure, the franchise is once again at the center of controversy. Hero Fiennes Tiffin is reportedly stepping away from the next season, and if true, this could mark the most defining — and dangerous — turning point in the After saga.
For better or worse, Hardin Scott has always been the heart of this universe. He wasn’t just the male lead or a romantic interest — he was the chaos that fueled every major storyline. His anger, his trauma, his slow and painful attempts at growth shaped the emotional rhythm of the franchise. Take Hardin away, and After Everything isn’t just changing direction — it’s questioning its own identity.
What makes this potential exit even more unsettling is how quietly it seems to be unfolding. There has been no dramatic announcement, no farewell post, no emotional tribute. Instead, industry whispers suggest a mix of creative fatigue, concerns over repeating the same destructive relationship patterns, and Hero Fiennes Tiffin’s desire to move on from a role that has defined much of his career.
And that raises an uncomfortable truth fans have been avoiding: After may have reached the limit of how many times it can tell the same love story without breaking it completely.
Hardin and Tessa’s relationship has always thrived on extremes — obsession, heartbreak, reconciliation, collapse, and rebirth. But with every cycle, the emotional payoff has grown more fragile. Removing Hardin entirely could be a bold attempt to force evolution… or a fatal miscalculation.
Because without Hardin Scott, what remains?
A love story without its fire.
A franchise without its emotional anchor.
A world built on passion suddenly left eerily quiet.
Even if this exit turns out to be temporary — a pause rather than a goodbye — the damage may already be done. Fans are divided, speculation is running wild, and the question looming over After Everything is no longer about romance.
It’s about survival.
Can the franchise reinvent itself without the character who defined it? Or was Hardin Scott always the storm holding everything together?
One thing feels certain:
If Hero Fiennes Tiffin truly walks away, After Everything will never feel the same again.
