It's been a while since Netflix's Stranger Things graced our screens – what about season 5? We've gathered everything you need to know about the upcoming final season, including the possible release date, the returning cast, what's to be expected plot-wise and even more news for curious minds.
Stranger Things has been Netflix's favorite child for years now (The Witcher would obviously be the abandoned middle child, but I digress). However, all good things must come to an end. Season 5 is going to be the last hurrah in Hawkins as we know it.
To get yourself hyped up for the final season, we've got all the info you need to know – from our release window speculation to some drama, we've got you covered.
Stranger Things Season 5: Possible Release Window
There's no easy way to say this, but season 5 will take some time. Following the writers' and actors' strikes that delayed filming for season 5, David Harbour (Jim Hopper in Stranger Things) has teased in November 2023 that shooting would resume "in a couple of days."
That explains why there's no official release date from Netflix yet – production needs to start first, after all. Knowing what we know now, Stranger Things' final season 5 could take as long as late 2025 to release.
That's a pretty long wait and, admittedly, kind of disappointing. To pass the time and still have the Hawkins vibes, I recommend the Stranger Things novels with additional stories about fan-favorite characters like Max, Jim, Robin and Eddie. If you're as impatient as me, those really help to make the wait more bearable.
What to expect from Stranger Things Season 5
As Stranger Things Season 4 came to a close, the stage was set for the gang's final showdown to save Hawkins and the world. The final season will see them attempting to close the door on the Upside Down for good. Fans can expect to see a lot of ground covered in the last season.
The Duffer Brothers have hinted that some of the big season two ideas will be pulled into season five. As they worked on season four, they filled up a whiteboard with every idea they could imagine. From this list, they picked the best ideas for season four and saved the rest for the final season.
In a recent interview, Harbour revealed that the ending of the show will be bittersweet. The cast has grown up, and it's time for them to move on to different projects. The show's creators also announced that they planned the complete story arc for Stranger Things seven years ago and predicted the story would last for four to five seasons.
Stranger Things Season 5: Expected Cast
As fans eagerly await the release of Stranger Things season five, it's time to start getting excited about what's to come. With the anticipation building, let's take a look at the characters we can expect to see in the upcoming season.
The Kids Group
The kids' group has been at the forefront of Stranger Things from the beginning, and in season five, we can expect to see them all return. Millie Bobby Brown will reprise her role as Eleven, Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, Noah Schnapp as Will Byers, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield, and Priah Ferguson as Erica Sinclair.
The Babysitters' Club
In season four, we saw Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) and Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke) team up with Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton) to form the Stranger Things version of a babysitters' club. Eduardo Franco also joined the group as Argyle. We can expect all of these characters to return in season five.
The Main Adults and Parents
David Harbour will return as Jim Hopper, along with Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers, Brett Gelman as Murray, and Tom Wlaschiha as Dmitri.
The Villains
It wouldn't be Stranger Things without some villains, and season five is sure to bring back some old foes. While details are still under wraps, we can expect to see some of the villains or those with questionable morals to make a return.
Henry/001/Vecna
Jamie Campbell-Bower takes on the role of Henry/001/Vecna, the terrifying, tentacle-covered uber-villain. Although Vecna is the epitome of evil, Jamie has been defending his character and even suggests that we might see more of his humanity by the end of Stranger Things.
As we look forward to Stranger Things season five, there's plenty to get excited about. With a jam-packed list of characters returning, both good and bad, it's sure to be another thrilling season.
Stranger Things Season 5: The Story
Netflix executives were brought to tears by the pitch for Stranger Things Season 5, according to The Duffer Brothers. The storyline for the season has reportedly been outlined and Netflix responded positively to the pitch.
However, the fourth season's ending leaves us wondering what is in store for the next installment of the show. Although a few characters met their demise in season four, some major players survived.
Even Max made a surprise return after seemingly dying, robbing the show of the tension that such a death would bring. Sadie Sink, who plays Max, has stated that she has no idea what is in store for her character in the upcoming season.
Nonetheless, Max is likely to suffer memory loss and may have a long road to recovery ahead of her. The final season of Stranger Things is sure to be emotional. Rumors have it that Will Byers will take on a main character role in season five, though.
Surviving Hawkins: What's Next for Stranger Things?
The world of Stranger Things is a mysterious place, and fans have been on the edge of their seats waiting for season five to answer one burning question: how will Hawkins survive the devastation of the last few seasons?
The Duffer Brothers, the show's creators, have remained tight-lipped about what's to come, leaving us all to speculate. However, one thing is clear: there's still much more to explore in the Stranger Things universe.
Possible Spillover into a Spin-Off
While we don't know exactly what will happen in season five, it's not a stretch to say that its events could spill over into a Stranger Things spin-off. The Duffer Brothers have teased that there are still many more exciting stories to tell within this world, which means we could be in for a treat.
The Cast and Creators Are Keeping Quiet
Even the existing Stranger Things cast members have been kept in the dark about what's next. The Duffer Brothers have been threadbare with the information they're sharing, making it difficult to know what to expect.
One person who did manage to work out the direction of the new show is Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler. He suggested that a spin-off set in the future would be a cool idea, but we have no idea if this will come to fruition.
A Prequel Is in the Works
While we wait for season five, we can look forward to a prequel hitting London's West End later this year. Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a stage play executive produced by the Duffer Brothers themselves. Though it won't be on our TV screens, it's still a great way to explore the Stranger Things universe.
What's Next for Stranger Things?
With so much still unknown about what's to come, it's difficult to say what the future holds for Stranger Things. However, with the Duffer Brothers' track record for delivering exciting, mysterious, and compelling stories, we can be sure that whatever comes next will be worth the wait.
Whether it's a spin-off, a prequel, or something completely unexpected, we can't wait to see what the Stranger Things universe has in store for us next.
Stranger Things Season 5 Footage
If you're a fan of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, you're likely wondering when you'll get a sneak peek of the highly anticipated Season 5. Unfortunately, it seems that you'll have to wait a bit longer before any new footage is released.The Stranger Things team is known for being notoriously tight-lipped about their upcoming seasons, so it's no surprise that there's been no official trailer yet. Fans have been scouring the internet for any clues or leaks, but so far, there's been nothing concrete.
Netflix "Keeps An Eye On" Noah Schnapp Amidst Backlash
Noah Schnapp has received major backlash online for his behavior regarding the Israel-Palestine situation. "Zionism is sexy" and "Hamas is ISIS" stickers he handed out while strolling around New York City were the thing that forced Netflix to reportedly "keep an eye on him" now.
Netflix is reportedly keeping an eye on Noah Schnapp's behavior following him handing out "Zionism is Sexy" and "Hamas is ISIS" stickers.However, it's unlikely he'll be fired from, recast, or killed off in the final season of 'STRANGER THINGS'.via: @The_Streamr pic.twitter.com/WCttRuPjDr
— Agents of Fandom (@AgentsFandom) November 25, 2023
With Will Byers as the possible main character in season 5, the possibility of him being fired is rather slim, even though firing actors for their public stance on the conflict wouldn't be a first timer: Melissa Barrera was dropped from Scream VI for her posts, for example.
Schnapp himself hasn't addressed the backlash directly so far, but he isn't exactly known for being chronically online in the first place, so that was to be expected. Still managed to make his stance clear, though, and most likely he won't face consequences.
Stranger Things Season 5: Final Season Feels Like "Eight Movies"
Stranger Things will wrap up its fifth and final season with eight feature-length episodes. Series creators Matt and Ross Duffer revealed that the final episode will be "at least two hours," slightly shorter than the two-and-a-half-hour Season 4 finale. According to Maya Hawke, who plays Robin, the final season will take a full year to film. "We're basically making eight movies," she said on the Podcrushed podcast, adding that the final season's episodes are "very long."
The eight-episode final season will pick up right where Season 4 left off, with Hawkins being overrun by the Upside Down. Matt Duffer explained that Season 5 will hit the ground running: "For the first time ever, we're not wrapping things up at the end of [season] 4, so it's going to be moving. I don't know if it's going to go 100 miles an hour at the beginning of [season] 5, but it's going to move pretty fast."
Despite having fewer episodes than the previous season, Season 5 will immediately throw the characters into action without the gradual buildup of previous seasons.