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.
We finally have release dates for all three parts of Stranger Things 5. (And they kind of suck.) But, in addition to that, Netflix has released an official synopsis for the final season of Stranger Things, giving us just a few more hints about what we can expect to see when the show returns for its last bow.
Stranger Things 5‘s official synopsis shares:
The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.
For our money, everyone ought to include Eddie Munson. But we digress. 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.
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.”
Stranger Things 5‘s Release Date
Stranger Things 5 has officially set a three-part 2025 release schedule. The release dates for Stranger Things 5‘s three volumes are as follows:
- Stranger Things 5, Volume 1 releases on November 26
- This includes episodes one through four.
- Stranger Things 5, Volume 2 releases on Christmas (December 25)
- This includes episodes five through seven.
- Stranger Things 5, Volume 3 releases on New Year’s Eve (December 31)
- This is the finale episode, or episode eight.
Each part of Stranger Things 5 releases at 5 PM PT/8 PM ET.
Originally published on January 4, 2024.