Summary

• Tessa, played by Josephine Langford, barely made an appearance in 2023's After Everything, which was a shock considering her prominence in the rest of the franchise.
• The final movie in the franchise focuses on Hardin, which goes some way to explain why Tessa wasn't in After Everything much.
• After Everything was the first movie on the franchise not to be based on one of author Anna Todd's books, meaning there was more creative freedom to focus on other characters.

The After film franchise has been popular since its 2019 debut, but Josephine Langford who played Tessa, was barely present in the final installment, After Everything. The films followed Tessa and Hardin's complicated romantic journey, but this final film took a detour in the storyline. Rather than focusing on the couple that dominated the first movies, After Everything focuses on Hardin attempting to make amends with an ex-girlfriend of his named Natalie, with whom he was childhood friends. Hardin leaked her sex tape when they were younger, which caused her to lose her scholarship and move to London.

The movie focuses on Hardin's personal growth and desire to become a better person, rather than on him and Tessa. The ending of After Everything satisfyingly answered the biggest question of whether Tessa and Hardin end up together. However, Tessa's absence cannot be ignored. Though Hardin's complicated backstory was interesting, the After series is built around Tessa, and it felt like a glaring issue that she was not a part of the final movie. Considering how impactful Tessa was to the franchise, it is natural that there is much curiosity surrounding Josephine Langford's unexpected absence.

After Everything is available to stream on Netflix.

After Everything Is Entirely From Hardin's Perspective, Not Tessa's

Tessa's Limited Role In After Everything Makes Sense

Though disappointing given how involved Tessa has been in the After series, her limited role in After Everything makes sense. Tessa has been a central character of the After books and films since their beginning, serving as the main female protagonist. Audiences had the opportunity to see her relationship with Hardin grow and change, which is why it was surprising that her role was so limited in After Everything. Given the storyline, though, it does seem natural that Tessa takes a step back in After Everything and viewers see her much less.

It serves as an opportunity to highlight Hardin's personal growth, rather than one that takes another look at Tessa's story.

This is because After Everything is entirely told from Hardin's perspective, instead of Tessa's. The past films were all either from Tessa's perspective or split between her and Hardin's, which is why viewers saw much more of her. This film is much more focused on Hardin's journey to make amends with someone he hurt in the past. It serves as an opportunity to highlight Hardin's personal growth, rather than one that takes another look at Tessa's story.

After Everything Isn't Based On An Anna Todd Book

Langford Also Expressed That She'd Only Return If It Made Sense

Part of the reason for this shift in point of view is because, unlike the previous movies, After Everything is not based on a book by Anna Todd. Todd first wrote the After series on Wattpad, and it started as fan fiction based on Harry Styles and the band One Direction. The series was then published by Gallery Books, which is an imprint of Simon & Schuster. The first four books in the After movie series were based on books that Todd wrote and that were published.

This deviation from the source material into entirely new creative territory likely played a part in Langford's very diminished role in After Everything and why there was a switch to Hardin's point of view.

This was not the case, however, for After Everything. Instead, the story was created later after seeing the movie series' large amount of success. This meant the actors had originally only signed on for four movies rather than five. This deviation from the source material into entirely new creative territory likely played a part in Langford's very diminished role in After Everything and why there was a switch to Hardin's point of view.

In an interview with StyleCaster in 2021, Langford expressed that she would only return to the franchise if it made sense and was important. She explained that she does not believe in a character or actor overstaying their welcome and unnecessary returns of characters can harm a franchise. Given this sentiment, it is very possible that Langford chose not to renew her contract and return to the franchise following the conclusion of the fourth movie. She explained:

“I would want to come back if it was important, and it made sense. I’m not a fan of overstaying your welcome. It can sometimes dampen a good thing if you’re creating something and it’s canon, and it doesn’t have a reason. I would be very, very, very happy to come back under the right circumstance and if it made sense."

Josephine Langford's After Everything Cameo Explained

She's Only In 15 Minutes Of After Everything

Although Josephine Langford's Tessa is seen significantly less in After Everything than in prior films, she still plays a role within the film. Tessa was in After Everything for about 15 minutes and can be seen during the proposal scene. She is also seen through flashbacks through Hardin's memories, but these scenes utilize old footage from the previous four films. While it was not a significant cameo, it confirms to viewers that Tessa is still a part of Hardin's life (though in a much more limited role than in the books) and that she is doing well.

How Did Tessa's Absence Affect The Film's Reception?

The Decision To Sideline Tessa In After Everything Didn't Sit Well With Fans

Tessa's limited presence in After Everything significantly impacted the movie's reception, particularly among fans who had followed the series closely. As the final installment in the After series, expectations were high for a conclusive and satisfying resolution to Tessa and Hardin's tumultuous relationship. However, the decision to sideline Tessa for the majority of the film and focus on Hardin's personal struggles and misadventures did not sit well with audiences. This shift led to a sense of imbalance in the narrative, which veered away from the central theme of their relationship that had been the series' cornerstone.

The portrayal of Hardin's character without a counterbalancing perspective from Tessa made the film feel one-dimensional and significantly less engaging.

Longtime fans were deprived of witnessing the key moments that would have provided a fulfilling closure to the couple's journey. Instead, the film abruptly jumps to a future where Tessa and Hardin are shown with children, skipping over significant life events such as their marriage and the birth of their kids, which only added to the frustration and left many feeling the final movie was the weakest link in the series. The film's reception suffered not only from Tessa's absence but also from the narrative choices that seemed to undermine the growth and development expected in a concluding saga.

After Everything had the lowest box office gross of the franchise (via The Numbers).

The portrayal of Hardin's character without a counterbalancing perspective from Tessa made the film feel one-dimensional and significantly less engaging. Additionally, the rushed ending and lack of meaningful resolution contributed to a general consensus that the movie failed to deliver the emotional depth and relational dynamics that fans had come to anticipate. As the franchise is an example of diminishing returns when it comes to the critical consensus, After Everything is in keeping with that sentiment and is considered the worst in the series.