The After franchise is far from over. Despite what seemed like a definitive conclusion in After Everything (2023), fans of the passionate love story between Tessa Young and Hardin Scott have reason to rejoice — the After universe is expanding once again. Voltage Pictures has officially confirmed both a prequel and a sequel, with filmmaker Castille Landon returning to write and direct the new chapters.
Castille Landon: The Vision Behind the Next Chapter
Castille Landon, who directed After We Fell, After Ever Happy, and After Everything, has become the creative heartbeat of the franchise. With her steady hand, the story evolved beyond teenage obsession into a more mature portrayal of trauma, love, and growth. Now, Landon is taking the After narrative even further — delving into Hardin’s troubled past and the next generation’s future.
“Fans think they’ve seen everything there is to know about Hardin and Tessa,” Landon teased in an interview, “but there’s still more to explore — especially how who they were shaped who they became.”
The Prequel: Before Tessa
The first project in development is the much-anticipated prequel, tentatively titled Before. Based loosely on Anna Todd’s companion novel, the story focuses on a young Hardin Scott before he meets Tessa. The film aims to reveal what molded him into the emotionally guarded, complex man fans met in the original After movie.
However, this isn’t a simple teenage backstory. Landon promises a more psychological exploration of Hardin’s early life — touching on family dysfunction, heartbreak, and the beginnings of his anger and isolation. This new chapter will reportedly feature a new cast, as the story centers on Hardin’s youth, long before Josephine Langford’s Tessa enters his life.
The Sequel: A New Generation Rises
Alongside the prequel, Landon is also developing a sequel that continues the Scott family saga. Tentatively titled After: Next Generation, the film will follow Tessa and Hardin’s children as they navigate young adulthood, love, and identity — while carrying the legacy (and emotional baggage) of their famous parents.
This project will serve as a symbolic “passing of the torch,” introducing new characters while honoring the franchise’s emotional roots. While Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Josephine Langford are not yet confirmed to appear, Landon has hinted that familiar faces could return “in ways that feel organic and true.”
A Universe That Keeps Evolving
Since its Wattpad origins, the After series has transformed into a global phenomenon, spawning five feature films, millions of streaming views, and an intensely loyal fan base. What began as a fan-fiction love story loosely inspired by One Direction has matured into a multimedia franchise about growth, redemption, and emotional resilience.
