When After Everything, the supposed final chapter of the After franchise, was quietly released, fans were surprised—and for many, disappointed—by a major change: the absence of Josephine Langford, who played the beloved Tessa Young in all four previous films. As Hero Fiennes Tiffin returned to his iconic role as Hardin Scott for one last emotional journey, viewers were left wondering why Tessa, the heart of the saga, had suddenly vanished from center stage.
Was it a creative choice? A scheduling conflict? Or something deeper behind the scenes? Here’s everything we know about why Josephine Langford did not appear in After Everything, and what it means for the future of the franchise—and its devoted fanbase. From the very beginning, the After films have hinged on the complicated, magnetic dynamic between Tessa Young and Hardin Scott. Josephine Langford and Hero Fiennes Tiffin brought Anna Todd’s characters to life with undeniable chemistry, helping transform a Wattpad phenomenon into a full-blown film franchise.
Director Castille Landon explained in interviews that the decision to focus solely on Hardin was creative. “This wasn’t about repeating the love story—we’d already done that. This was about Hardin finding closure, forgiving himself, and moving on, even if that means letting go of what he wants most.” Because the film was conceptualized later, Josephine was not under contract to appear. And rather than rework or delay the project, the creative team moved forward with a story that featured Tessa only through flashbacks using previously filmed footage.
By the time After Everything was greenlit, both actors had moved on to new roles. Josephine in particular has been pursuing diverse projects, with her focus shifting toward more mature roles and a broader filmography. With Tessa absent, After Everything dives deep into Hardin’s psyche. Set years after the events of After Ever Happy, the film explores his guilt, writer’s block, lingering anger, and attempts at self-repair. He revisits people he’s hurt, including Natalie (a character from his past), and slowly confronts the demons that made him the volatile, brooding man fans came to love—and worry about.
Some felt cheated, expecting a final reunion or closure that After Everything didn’t quite provide. “It’s not After without Tessa,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “You can’t end a love story with just one half.” Others appreciated the risk the film took. By removing Tessa physically, the story forced Hardin—and the audience—to focus on inner healing rather than romantic rescue. One Reddit user wrote, “It was painful but necessary. Hardin had to fix himself, not rely on Tessa to fix him.” Still, many agree that a single reunion scene between Hero and Josephine—especially one showing them together in the present—would have given the franchise the satisfying emotional full circle it needed.
Josephine Langford has remained largely quiet about her absence in After Everything. However, in previous interviews around the time of After Ever Happy, she spoke about feeling “grateful” to have been part of a franchise that meant so much to fans, while also expressing a desire to move on to new projects and roles. Her post-After filmography already includes more dramatic and genre-diverse roles, signaling a shift in her career goals. Like many young actors emerging from a major franchise, Langford seems determined not to be typecast.
Yes—After Everything was officially promoted as the final chapter of the Hessa saga. With both Josephine Langford and Hero Fiennes Tiffin moving on from their roles, it’s unlikely we’ll see another film featuring them as Tessa and Hardin. However, the After universe may still live on. Author Anna Todd has confirmed that a prequel focused on a younger Hardin (based on her book Before) is in development, along with a spin-off potentially involving Hardin and Tessa’s children. These would likely involve new characters and a different cast, but they prove that interest in the After world hasn’t faded.
Josephine Langford’s absence from After Everything wasn’t due to conflict, controversy, or fan betrayal—it was a creative decision shaped by timing, contracts, and a desire to tell a different kind of story. While fans understandably missed Tessa’s presence, the film gave Hardin the solo arc he never quite got in earlier entries. Still, it’s hard to deny that After Everything could have reached emotional greatness with even just one new scene of Josephine Langford as Tessa—older, wiser, and ready to write a new chapter with the man who finally found peace.
