Here’s everything we know about Stranger Things Season 5, the final chapter of the Netflix show.
Stranger Things is undoubtedly a global phenomenon at this point. The Duffer Brothers’ captivating horror and ’80s nostalgia-fest has been going strong since 2016, but Season 5 of the show is set to conclude the show.
While we don’t want it to end anytime soon, here’s everything you need to know about the final season.
Stranger Things Season 4 spoilers ahead…
Contents
- Is there a Stranger Things Season 5 release date?
- Are there Stranger Things Season 5 casting details?
- Stranger Things Season 5 plot: What will it be about?
- Stranger Things Season 5: What happened in Season 4?
Is there a Stranger Things Season 5 release date?
No, a release date is yet to be confirmed for the fifth season of Stranger Things. While an official release date hasn’t been announced at this point, it appeared a 2024 release was most likely, at least based on initial filming plans. Now, however, a release window is completely up in the air due to the ongoing writer’s strike.
In a recent interview with Collider, David Harbour implied that season 5 of the show was set to start filming in the middle of 2023.
“We’re walking into season five. I’ve got a couple more months to train. We start shooting that in June, though, and that will be the final season. I did a lot of training for season four. He [Hopper] was in a very specific position, that Russian prison.”
However, these plans have now been interrupted. The Duffers Brothers, best known as the creators of Stranger Things, took to Twitter to confirm that the show will be stopping development in support of the Writer’s Guild strike.
“Duffers here. Writing does not stop when filming begins. While we’re excited to start production with our amazing cast and crew, it is not possible during this strike. We hope a fair deal is reached soon so we can all get back to work. Until then — over and out.”
Duffers here. Writing does not stop when filming begins. While we’re excited to start production with our amazing cast and crew, it is not possible during this strike. We hope a fair deal is reached soon so we can all get back to work. Until then — over and out. #wgastrong
— stranger writers (@strangerwriters) May 6, 2023
As a result, this will likely push back the expected release date for the final season of Stranger Things.
Based on some behind-the-scenes tweets for Season 5, all information points at the finale season being eigh episodes all up. However, it is still unclear how long each episode will go for. Season 5 might mirror the last and have a movie-length finale episode or better yet, have multiple episodes span a two-hour long run time.
Are there Stranger Things Season 5 cast details?
Currently, there are no details on who is likely to make an appearance in Season 5. However, we now know who survived the events of the Season 4 finale. While we won’t explicitly list who died here, for the sake of those who’ve yet to see it, we can expect certain cast members to return for the last season.
That includes Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Will (Noah Schnapp), Max (Sadie Sink), Steve (Joe Keery), Nancy (Natalia Dyer), Jonathan (Charlie Heaton), Robin (Maya Hawke), Joyce (Winona Ryder) or Hopper (David Harbour).
Stranger Things Season 5 plot: What will it be about?
Speaking with Variety on their Showrunners Sitdown segment, the Duffer Brothers explained that “the only thing we don’t delve into in Volume 2 is Upside Down lore.”
It seems that the next season will flesh out the demonic underworld even more as “a lot of those answers for the Upside Down is really what the basis of Season 5 is about.” The Upside Down is home to monsters such as the Mind Flayer and Season 4 baddie Vecna, but fans have been eager to learn more about its origin.
The Duffers are certain of one thing: the ending. “We know what the ending is,” they told SFX.
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on Esports, Gaming and more.
“It’s conceivable that it changes but I think it’s unlikely because it’s one of those endings that just feels, and has always felt, right. It also feels sort of inevitable. Then when you come up with it, you’re like, ‘Oh yeah well, that is absolutely what is has to be.'”
As well as this, it appears that season 5 is shaping up to be the most emotional season to date. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Stranger Things creators revealed that they made Netflix executives cry when they read through the first script for the upcoming season.
“We did get our executives to cry, which I felt was a good sign that these executives were crying. The only other times I’ve seen them cry were like budget meetings,” Matt joked.
They also teased to the Happy Sad Confused podcast: “Characters are already going to be in action, they’re already going to have a goal and a drive, and I think that’s going to carve out at least a couple hours and make this season feel really different.”
Stranger Things Season 5: What happened in Season 4?
Over the course of Season 4, we’ve seen the Hawkins kids scramble to uncover the mystery of Vecna, a supernatural killer who was originally 001 in Dr. Martin Brenner’s studies. After Eleven banished him to the Upside Down, the harsh conditions of the otherworldly realm transformed him into a formidable foe.
We’ve seen Vecna exercise his brutal powers over innocent teens, starting with Chrissy’s horrific death in Episode 1 and working his way to Max in Episode 4, who narrowly escaped his eye-pinching grasp with the power of Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill. Unfortunately, she wasn’t lucky enough to get away unscathed a second time, and is now stuck in a coma, where she seems to be staying until Season 5.
After spending some time in a Russian prison, Joyce Byers and Murray Bauman were able to successfully bring Hopper home, though not before he epically beheaded a Demogorgon. The California crew of Mike, Will, Johnathan, and new character Argyle also made it back to Hawkins, though Hawkins isn’t exactly the best place to be at the moment.
Having succeeded in his plan to sacrifice four kids, Vecna is able to open a giant gate across Hawkins, bringing the Upside Down the right side up. In the final moments of the season, our heroes watch black smoke pour out from the gate, threatening what’s to come in Season 5.
Eleven may have regained her powers after working with the late Doctor Brenner, but will this be enough for her to face the biggest danger Hawkins has ever known?
Are you looking forward to Stranger Things Season 5? Be sure to keep updated with the show as more news develops.
That’s everything we know about Stranger Things Season 5. We’ll update this page upon further announcements, and in the meantime, you can check out our other TV hubs below:
The Last of Us HBO | Invincible Season 2 | The Boys Season 4 | Black Mirror Season 6 | Succession Season 4 | Ted Lasso Season 3 | You Season 4 | The Witcher Season 3 | The Witcher: Blood Origin | Severance Season 2