Hayley Atwell is Joining ‘Heartstopper’ Season 3 — Here’s Who She’s Playing

Hayley Atwell speaking at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Entertainment Weekly: Women Who Kick Ass", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Credit: Gage Skidmore/Wiki Commons

Hayley Atwell is joining Netflix’s Heartstopper for season 3.

The series by Alice Oseman left off in season 2 with Nick saying “I love you.” and Charlie just on the brink of saying it before the credits role. Elle accepts the offer to head to Lambert School of Art. And Tao, though saddened at losing his friend to distance, he bucks up and they decide on a long-distance relationship. Darcy and Tara move forward in their relationship and the formers home situation is now out. And Isaac comes to grips with his asexuality.

With season 3 wrapping production in December, Heartstopper was due to make some cast announcements. And now it seems we have one in the form of Hayley Atwell allegedly joining as Aunt Diane. The news was first reported by What’s on Netflix. According to them Diane is her character name. And thanks to fans like @kconnorupdate on X (formerly Twitter), we know that this most likely means that she’s playing Nick’s aunt Diane. According to multiple fans, we get to see her when Nick heads off to Menorca with mom Sarah and brother David.

The fact that Atwell could be playing Diane means there’s a lot to play with when it comes to her character. That’s especially true when you consider how big of a star Atwell is. Personally, I’m hoping she’s what I want to be: a single fun aunt who travels the world and is the favorite aunt. It would be even better if she was the queer single aunt. Because if there’s anything that Nick needs in season 3, it’s support.

Atwell is known for playing Peggy Carter in the MCU. But with every year that passes, she continues to join projects that make her someone other than Captain America’s romantic interest. She’s set to voice Lara Croft in Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft TV series. And will be in Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two and Rogue Trooper.

Heartstopper season 3 doesn’t have a set release date yet but it’s looking to be sometime later this year.