Since its release, there has been clamor for a sequel to the hit TV drama Normal People, which made breakthrough stars of its two leads Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones when it was released during lockdown in April 2020. 

But one of the cast, Irish actor Éanna Hardwicke, has shared he doesn’t like the idea of a sequel, as he’s “not a fan of rehashing things.”

BBC News reports that the actor was speaking at a pre-Oscars party in Los Angeles Thursday evening.

The BBC drama was adapted by writer Sally Rooney from her own bestselling novel and followed the on-off relationship of Irish teenagers Marianne and Connell. 

Hardwicke played Rob, a schoolfriend of Connell’s, in the series. He told BBC News: “It’s nicer to leave it in people’s imagination, and leave it as it was.”

There was excitement last year when the two leads, who have remained close friends, posted on Instagram with an apparent tease at a sequel. However, the “reunion” turned out to be a hosting of the show for charity. 

Edgar-Jones previously said she’d be interested in going back. She told BBC News in 2024: 

“I love those characters. It would be wonderful to explore them again.” She added: “If [Rooney] is up for writing a new story, who knows… Keeping it open. Always open.”

She also recognised the boost it had given to both her and Mescal’s careers: “It introduced Paul and I to a lot of people and film-makers.”

Edgar-Jones has gone on to star in Under the Banner of Heaven on TV, and films Where the Crawdads Sing and Twisters, while Mescal has been Oscar-nominated for Aftersun and recently took the lead in Ridley Scott’s big-budget Gladiator sequel. 

Hardwicke starred as real-life murderer Ben Field in the acclaimed BBC drama The Sixth Commandment.