Spoilers for Stranger Things 4: Volume 2 follow.
Stranger Things Season 5 will be the series’ final season. The Duffer Brothers announced the news themselves in an open letter shared with fans alongside Season 4’s official poster in February 2022.
“We planned out the entire story arc for Stranger Things seven years ago,” the duo wrote in their letter. “We predicted the story would last four or five seasons at the time. It proved too large to tell in four parts, but as you’ll soon see, we’re on our way to the end. Season 4 will be the penultimate season, followed by Season 5.”
“Stranger Things 4 was the most challenging season yet. However also the most rewarding,” the Duffer Brothers said, referring to the fourth season as “the beginning of the end.” The duo also revealed that they split the season into two parts due to its “unprecedented length” and to get it to fans “as soon as possible.”
Since Stranger Things debuted on Netflix in 2016, the Duffer Brothers have served as series creators and showrunners. With a two-volume Season 4 behind us, there’s only one chapter left for our favorite group of Hawkins kids to focus on.
Stranger Things may be ending, but its universe will not, according to the Duffer Brothers. “There are many more exciting stories to tell within Stranger Things’ world; new mysteries, new adventures, and new unexpected heroes.”
With so much and so little left on the horizon, we’ve compiled a list of everything we know so far about Stranger Things Season 5. Including the release date, plot details, cast information, and more. Check out everything you need to know about below. Stranger Things Season 5
Which Stranger Things Season 5 cast members are returning?
The majority of the main cast survived Season 4 and appeared in the season’s final scene. Having said that, it’s safe to assume that the majority of the main cast will return for Season 5. Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Finn Wolfhard (Mike), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), Noah Schnapp (Will), Priah Ferguson (Erica), Natalia Dyer (Nancy), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan), Maya Hawke (Robin), Joe Keery (Steve), David Harbour (Hopper), and Winona Ryder are among those who have appeared (Joyce).
In Episode 9, we said goodbye to Eddie Munson, who died a hero to save his friends and protect his town. The Duffer Brothers confirmed this character’s death on the Happy Sad Confused podcast following the finale. However, there are two other character deaths from Volume 2 that are a little murkier.
In the two-part finale, Max fell victim to Vecna’s curse and was technically dead for a full minute before Eleven used her powers to restart her heart. Max is hospitalized and in a coma when we last see her. Eleven attempts to communicate with her by searching for her mind, but she receives no response.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly following the release of Volume 2. Actress Sadie Sink discussed the agonizing scene of Max’s death and her character’s future in the show. “It’s really just so sad,” Sadie told EW. “When you put yourself in that situation and then you’re with someone like Caleb, who I’ve known since I was a baby, things can feel very real on that set.” It was extremely emotional. It’s simply heartbreaking.”
“I’m not sure where we’re going or how Max is doing. Everything is definitely up in the air right now” Sadie stated. “I’m as eager as everyone else to learn where Max is and how she’s doing.”
Will there be new characters in Stranger Things Season 5?
Jamie Campbell Bower, who played this season’s villain Vecna/Henry/One. Has also hinted at an S5 return to EW. Mentioning a scene in which Vecna should be dead but suddenly vanishes. Will’s mention to Mike that he could still feel Vecna’s presence during the finale is almost confirmation enough. Though Jamie didn’t confirm whether he’d signed on for multiple seasons.
“Whenever we introduce a new character, we want to make sure that they’re going to be an integral part of the narrative,” Ross said. “So that’s something with Eddie [in season 4], where we go, ‘Well, we need a character here for this storyline to really work, and to give it the engine that is needed.’ But every time we do that, we’re nervous.
Only because you go, ‘We’ve got a great cast of characters here, and actors, and any moment we’re spending with a new character, we’re taking time away from one of the other actors.’ So we’re just very, very careful about who we’re introducing.”
Ross and Matt went on to praise the adaptability and performances of newcomers to the show after season one. Such as Joseph Quinn, Sadie Sink, Maya Hawke, and Dacre Montgomery. Though they avoid introducing multiple new core characters in a single season. The Duffer Brothers admit that new characters, like new plot devices or new creatures to battle, can bring fresh ideas.
What will the fifth season of Stranger Things be about?
“I just like shaking things up, so we shake things up by changing the plot or introducing a new monster,” Matt explained. “We’re doing everything we can to avoid [adding new characters] for Season 5.” We’re trying not to do that so that we can focus on the original characters.” With so little time left with the original Hawkins gang, it’s understandable that the Stranger Things writers want to make sure fans don’t feel cheated by the series finale. This means that there might be a new face around town in Stranger Things 5, but don’t hold your breath.
Stranger Things 5 will most likely follow the Hawkins family on their final adventure as they work together to solve their biggest mystery yet. How to finally defeat Vecna. The Duffer Brothers previously told TV Line that there will be a time jump.
Collider also confirmed that the final season will be primarily set in Hawkins and the Upside Down. In addition, the brothers have stated in multiple interviews that the primary focus of Season 5. That it will be to deconstruct the mythology of the Upside Down and finally provide answers to questions raised since Season 1.
The Duffer Brothers have also stated that they are unsure what this final season will look like, but they know how it will end.
“It’s like that lighthouse blinking in the distance… While a lot of Season 5 is actually pretty blurry in our heads, the last 30 minutes are pretty clear.” Ross explained. “So, if we can make the journey enjoyable, I believe we will arrive at a satisfying conclusion. You can’t please everyone, but the hope is that it feels right for this story.”
“We do have an outline for Season 5 that we pitched to Netflix, and they really liked it,” Ross said. “I mean, it was difficult. The story has come to an end. It was surreal to see executives cry who I’d never seen cry before.”
Is Stranger Things Season 5 currently in production?
Though Stranger Things Season 5 filming has not yet begun, the Duffer Brothers revealed to Collider that writing for the final season will begin in the summer of 2022. “We’re going to take a little vacation in July, and then we’ll return,” the siblings said in July.
“I know the writer’s room will open in the first week of August.” The Duffer Brothers kept their word, as the @strangerwriters Twitter account posted an update on August 2 with only two words: “Day 1.” A whiteboard with a hand-drawn Stranger Things 5 logo is shown, with a group of people seated around a table visible in the whiteboard’s reflection. The writer’s room is now open for business.
Is there a Stranger Things Season 5 trailer?
There is currently no trailer for Stranger Things Season 5. All we have are our vivid imaginations and the endless amounts of tea that the Duffer Brothers continue to spill!
Will there be Stranger Things spinoffs?
The Duffer Brothers have been hinting for years that the Stranger Things universe isn’t over, and as the end of the original series approaches, they have more to say about expanding the franchise.
“There’s a version of [a spinoff] developing in parallel [to season 5]. However they’d never shoot it concurrent,” Ross told Variety. “I think Matt and I are going to start delving into that as soon as we’re wrapping up and finishing these visual effects.”
“The reason we haven’t done anything is just that you don’t want to be doing it for the wrong reasons, and it was just like, ‘Is this something I would want to make regardless of it being related to Stranger Things or not?’ And definitely,” said Matt. “Even if we took the Stranger Things title off of it, I’m so, so excited about it. But it is not. It’s going to be different than what anyone is expecting, including Netflix.”
The Duffer Brothers have also stated that they would like to hand over the spinoff to a new person. “Ultimately, the idea is to pass the baton to someone else, hopefully, someone really talented and passionate,” Matt explained on Happy Sad Confused. “Even the idea of Ross and I doing a pilot and then abandoning it seems ridiculous to me.” You must be present from the start to the finish. I believe we will need to find a partner to assist us with this.”
However, it appears that Finn Wolfhard (Mike) made a correct guess about the spinoff series. “Finn Wolfhard wasn’t speculating; he just said, ‘I think this would be a cool spin-off,'” Ross told Variety.” And we were like, ‘How in the world…?'”
