Joe Locke is booked, busy, and apparently about to terrify us.
The beloved Heartstopper star is stepping into a wildly unexpected new chapter with the upcoming horror film Baby, and based on the plot alone, this one is already shaping up to be a queer cult favorite in the making.
Not much had been known about the mysterious project—until now.
According to international reports, filming officially wrapped on Sunday, and director Sam Max celebrated the end of production by posting behind-the-scenes Instagram Stories. Those stories reportedly included graphic imagery featuring blood and what appeared to be a mysterious fetus-like prop.
In other words: subtlety has left the building.
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So… What Is Baby About?
Let’s get into the deliciously unhinged premise.
Baby, the feature directorial debut from Sam Max, is described as a drama blended with body horror and centers on a rookie male sex worker living in a rural town.
Things take a turn when he becomes pregnant with a mysterious creature after a compromising encounter with a new client.
Yes. You read that correctly.
Joe Locke starring as a male sex worker carrying a monster baby in a body horror film? We knew he had range, and this film just proves it.
The concept sounds equal parts grotesque, emotional, camp, and deeply weird—the exact ingredients many queer audiences know how to appreciate.
Blood on the Wall, Creature in the Tub
Social media clues have only fueled curiosity.
Among the imagery reportedly shared by the director: a blood-splattered wall and a bathtub containing an unidentified creature.
Naturally, the internet has questions.
Was it a water birth? A monster reveal? Symbolic trauma? Plumbing issues?
At this stage, nobody knows. But the mystery is half the fun.
One thing is clear: Baby does not seem interested in playing it safe.
Joe Locke’s Career Glow-Up Continues
Locke first captured hearts as Charlie Spring in Heartstopper, bringing tenderness, vulnerability, and sharp emotional depth to one of the most beloved queer characters of the streaming era.
Now he’s pivoting into darker, riskier material—and that’s exciting.
Many young actors get boxed into the role that made them famous. Locke appears determined to stretch, surprise, and show range. Moving from soft romance to visceral horror is exactly the kind of bold career choice that keeps audiences interested.
And let’s be honest: queer stars deserve messy, strange, genre-bending projects too.
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But Don’t Worry—Heartstopper Forever Is Coming
Before Baby arrives to haunt our dreams, Locke will also return in Heartstopper Forever, the film concluding Netflix’s beloved queer series.
HEARTSTOPPER FOREVER
🍂 JULY 17 🍂 pic.twitter.com/bwPwWjSOVD
— Netflix (@netflix) April 22, 2026
Set to premiere on July 17, 2026, the movie stars Locke opposite Kit Connor and promises to explore the bittersweet reality of growing up queer—where your forever person may still be your person, just not in the way you imagined.
Tender heartbreak one minute, monster pregnancy the next.
That is range.
The Bottom Line
Joe Locke is proving he’s far more than one iconic role.
With Heartstopper Forever delivering emotional closure and Baby promising creature-feature chaos, Locke is entering a fearless new era.
Cute boys cry. Scream queens evolve.
And Joe Locke? He’s doing both.