It feels like Stranger Things has been a phenomenon for as long as we can remember. But now, our favorite party is all grown up, and the time has come for the series’ last chapter. Stranger Things 5 will be the Netflix hit’s final season, but we have no doubt that these concluding episodes will have a ton of meat on their bones.
In honor of Stranger Things Day, Netflix gave us four new images from the set of Stranger Things 5. These include a first look at The Party (Lucas, Mike, Dustin, and Will), Mike and Lucas riding their bikes at the gas station, Dusting, Steve, Jonathan, and Nancy in a car, and Joyce and Hopper looking very cozy in a bed. You can check out these early glimpses at Stranger Things 5 below.
For now, let’s roll for initiative and head back to Hawkins one more time. Here’s everything we know about Stranger Things 5.
Stranger Things 5‘s Plot
Stranger Things 4 ended with a bang as the Upside Down erupted right into the middle of Hawkins. Although everyone came together to try to stop Vecna, the villainous monster, who is actually One, who is actually Henry Creel, succeeded in merging his evil world with the reality every day people inhabit. The party managed to injure Vecna and seemingly save Max from his clutches. However, the fallout remained apocalyptic. In the final moments of the season, the Upside Down’s ash arrives to cover everything, and a full-out war with the monstrous creatures of the dark world seems imminent.
While we don’t know much about Stranger Things 5 yet, we assume it will have just a little to do with how Stranger Things 4 ended. The Duffer brothers haven’t provided many plot specifics but have offered several teases about Stranger Things 5. Among other bits, they shared that the action will remain centered in Hawkins and that likely we’ll see an eight-episode season. Additionally, the Duffers have noted that Will Byers will take a central role in the final season.
Finally, the series’ creators describe Stranger Things 5 as follows, “Five, the way we see it, is kind of a culmination of all the seasons, so it’s sort of got a little bit from each… Whereas before, each season was so [distinct]… [Season] 3 is our big summer blockbuster season with big monsters, and [Season] 4 was the psychological horror. Five, the way we see it, is kind of a culmination of all the seasons, so it’s sort of got a little bit from each. I think that what we’re trying to do is go back to the beginning a little bit, in sort of the tone of 1.” Or, “Season 5 is like if season 1 and 4 had a baby. And then that baby was injected with steroids.” Make of that what you will.
One character whom everyone is curious about is Max. Season four left her with broken limbs and in a coma but we do know that Sadie Sink has been filming with her co-stars. So, how will Max show up in Stranger Things 5? Sadie didn’t give away spoilers to Variety but she did hint that Max will be back in action again.
They love having me run,” she affirmed. “That’s all I’ll say.” Of course, we don’t know exactly how that will happen. Will Max be running in the Upside Down or in some sort of Void? Or will she come out of her coma to run again at some point? Who knows.
You can take an official look at the season with a new behind-the-scenes featurette celebrating Stranger Things 5.
Behind the Scenes
Of course, the Duffer brothers, Matt and Ross Duffer, will once again take the helm of Stranger Things 5. Additionally, long-time Stranger Things director Shawn Levy will return to direct at least one episode of the season. Superstitiously, the Deadpool 3 director likes to take on episodes three and four if he can.
Ross Duffer is giving us a few peeks behind-the-scenes of Stranger Things 5. This includes a very rad photo of Steve in front of a radio station, a shred bin with a photo of our dearly departed Eddie shredding on his guitar, and some other fun bits. It makes us super excited for what’s to come.
Stranger Things 5‘s Cast
All our favorite characters and actors will be back for Stranger Things 5. We know for sure that Joyce Byers, Jim Hopper, Mike Wheeler, Nancy Wheeler, Jonathan Byers, Eleven, Lucas Sinclair, Dustin Henderson, Will Byers, Karen Wheeler, Stever Harrington, Robin Buckley, and Murray Bauman will be back. (And with them, their respective actors.) Sadie Sink’s Max survived season four and should return with the rest. We, of course, are still holding the torch for the surprise resurrection of Joseph Quinn’s Eddie Munson. Stranger Things takes place in a supernatural world, after all. And it just wouldn’t be a good season without one Erica Sinclair.
When it comes to new faces, we know that Linda Hamilton has joined the cast of Stranger Things 5. But her role remains a secret for now. Additionally, Nell Fisher, Jake Connelly, and Alex Breaux have joined the cast.
Finally, CBR reports that the series will recast his daughter Sara, whom we’ve only seen through flashbacks. She’s Hopper’s daughter, who died in 1978 at age 7 prior to the events of season one. We recently saw Sara in Stranger Things season four flashbacks as Hopper revealed his Agent Orange exposure caused her to develop childhood cancer.
This casting call, first seen on Knight Edge Media, asks for “[ SARA ] – Character is portrayed as 5 years old, female, white, blonde and blue/grey eyes. Sara is Hopper’s daughter seen in flashbacks. MUST MATCH TO SEASON 1 CAST MEMBER ELLE GRAHAM…CO-STAR.” The show is still shooting in Atlanta and this would be a very minor role, so it would make sense to bring someone in quickly for it.
Stranger Things 5‘s Release Date
Stranger Things 5 does not yet have a release date, but it will not arrive in 2024.
Originally published on January 4, 2024.
