After Ever Happy: Release date, cast and trailer for After 4
The stormy romance between Hardin and Tessa is set to reach its conclusion in the upcoming film.
College students Tessa and Hardin continue their torrid relationship in After Ever Happy, the fourth instalment in the film series based on Anna Todd's YA romance novels.
The film was originally meant to be the final chapter in Tessa and Hardin's story before the franchise turned its attention to spin-offs – a Hardin prequel and a series centring on Tessa and Hardin's children.
But a surprise Instagram video confirmed a fifth movie starring Josephine Langford and Hero Fiennes Tiffin was also in the works.
The news delighted the series' loyal fans, particularly those who have already seen After Ever Happy and are wondering what happens next.
If you haven't, however, read on to find out everything you need to know about Happy Ever After – including a look at that trailer, cast and plot details, and where you can watch it.
After Ever Happy release date
The film had its European premiere in August, followed by a theatrical run in the US on 7th September.
In the UK, After Ever Happy landed exclusively on Prime Video on 23rd September. Don't have a membership but still want to see what's next for Tessa and Hardin? You can get a Prime Video free trial.
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As has been the case with the other films in the franchise, it will be added to US Netflix, with its Twitter account confirming it would land on Christmas Day.
After Ever Happy trailer
The new teaser trailer for the film was released in April 2022, and shows Hardin dealing with the fall-out of the shock revelation at the end of the previous film – as Tessa gives him a dramatic ultimatum. You can watch the clip in full below:
It follows a shorter teaser that was released in December 2021...
The second teaser promises yet more drama from the pair's tumultuous relationship – watch above!
After Ever Happy cast
Given the series revolves around the love story between the characters played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Josephine Langford, it's no surprise that they return as Hardin Scott and Tessa Young respectively.
And they won't be the only returning faces for the fourth instalment in the franchise: Chance Perdomo, Louise Lombard, Frances Turner, Rob Estes, Kiana Madeira, Anton Kottas, Arielle Kebbel, Stephen Moyer, and Mira Sorvino will also all be back.
While several supporting characters were recast between the second and third films in the series – owing to various scheduling conflicts – this won't be the case this time around, with After Ever Happy having been shot back to back with the previous film.
After Ever Happy plot
The new film picks up after the events of the previous entry in the franchise, After We Fell, which ended with a major bombshell – the revelation that Tessa's new boss Christian Vance is Hardin's father, a huge shock for both Tessa and Hardin.
According to the synopsis of After Ever Happy, that revelation will lead to Hardin and Tessa discovering that the differences between them aren't as vast as they had once thought – but will also see a few more difficulties creeping into their relationship.
"As a shocking truth about a couple's families emerges, the two lovers discover they are not so different from each other," it reads. "Tessa is no longer the sweet, simple, good girl she was when she met Hardin — any more than he is the cruel, moody boy she fell so hard for."
Meanwhile, a further synopsis teases: "Hardin and Tessa are growing up and they may never be the same. Although they have defied all the odds, their next chapter will bring either a fairy tale ending or finally destroy their passionate yet toxic relationship.
"When a revelation about the past shakes Hardin's impenetrable façade to the core – and Tessa suffers a tragedy – will they stick together or be torn apart? Life will never be the same for Hessa."
As has been the case with each of the previous three instalments, the fourth film is based on Anna Todd's novel of the same name.
That novel included several time jumps, and it's not currently clear how the film will incorporate these – but it will certainly be exciting for fans to find out.
Will there be another After film?
After Ever Happy was meant to be the final film in the main After series, originally set to bring the love story between Tessa and Hardin to a close.
However, a surprise fifth movie was announced in August, much to the delight of fans. The fifth instalment, titled After Everything, will see Langford and Tiffin reprise their roles one last time before the franchise delves into spin-off territory.
One of the new films will be a prequel loosely adapted from Anna Todd's novel Before – which focuses on Hardin's life before he met Tessa. As the character will be significantly younger in this film, a different actor will be taking on the role.
Meanwhile, the second spin-off will be a sequel focusing on Tessa and Hardin's children Emery and Auden, as well as their cousin Addy, who are introduced in the epilogue of After Ever Happy.
"The After universe just keeps expanding," director Castille Landon told Teen Vogue when announcing the new films. "The fandom, and how excited they are and their input, it really does inspire us all as creators every single day."
After Ever Happy will be released on Amazon Prime Video in the UK later in 2022 – sign up for a Prime Video free trial. You can also buy Anna Todd's After Ever Happy and Before novels now.
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