In a nutshell:
The final season of the Duffer brothers’ sci-fi behemoth is set to bring the tale of Eleven, Hawkins and the Upside Down to an epic conclusion.
Is there a trailer for Stranger Things season 5?
Not quite yet, though Netflix has released a teaser revealing all of the final season’s episode titles, as well as a behind-the-scenes first look. Watch them in full below.
Who is returning for Stranger Things season 5?
Series regulars Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Finn Wolfhard (Mike), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas), Noah Schnapp (Will), Natalia Dyer (Nancy), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan), Joe Keery (Steve), Maya Hawke (Robin), Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), David Harbour (Jim Hopper), Priah Ferguson (Erica) and Brett Gelman (Murray) all survived the season four finale and will be returning.
There will, however, be some notable absences. Joseph Quinn’s Hellfire Club captain Eddie, a new fan favourite, sadly perished after being attacked by a swarm of Demobats in episode nine. Mason Dye’s vengeful jock Jason Carver was also killed – his body ripped apart by an interdimensional gate in the Creel House – as was Matthew Modine’s Dr Martin Brenner, who was shot by a US army sniper.
Less certain? The fates of Paul Reiser’s Dr Sam Owens, who was last seen inside the Nina Project as it was attacked by the military; Jamie Campbell Bower’s Vecna, who though temporarily defeated is believed to still be alive; and, of course, Sadie Sink’s Max. In the season finale, Vecna’s attack on the latter caused her heart to stop for over a minute and, even though Eleven was able to revive her, she was shown in a later scene to be in a coma. When Eleven then reached into her mind, she was unable to find her consciousness. However, both Bower and Sink can be seen on set in Netflix’s first look, confirming that they’ll have crucial parts to play in the final instalment.
And as for new additions to the cast? Look out for none other than Linda Hamilton in a yet-to-be-disclosed role. “I love the show so much,” the Terminator star and ’80s icon says in the first look segment. “I really am a fan.” Also joining the ensemble are Nell Fisher, Alex Breaux and Jake Connelly.
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What can we expect from Stranger Things season 5?
The fourth season ended with the battle between Vecna and the residents of Hawkins coming out into the open for the first time: his attack on Max allowed the gates to open and rip through the neighbourhood, causing an earthquake that claimed many lives. As the Upside Down began to invade Hawkins, the camera cut to black. So, as it stands, the mission for season five appears to be to kill Vecna once and for all, and save what remains of their hometown.
While further details are, understandably, being kept carefully under wraps, the Duffer brothers did speak about the project at a Netflix event on 13 November 2023. They described the final season as “kind of a culmination of all the seasons, so it’s got a little bit from each, whereas before, each season was so distinct – three is our big summer blockbuster season with our big monster; four was the psychological horror. I think that what we’re trying to do [this time] is go back to the beginning a little bit, in sort of the tone of one. But also scale-wise, it’s more aligned with what four is. So, hopefully, it’s got a little bit of everything.”
They also added that, although the supernatural elements of the show will remain centre stage, character development will be equally crucial. “We have so many characters now, most of whom are still living, and it’s important to wrap up those arcs,” they said. “A lot of these characters have been growing since season one, so it’s a balancing act between giving them time to complete their arcs and also tying up loose ends and doing our final reveals.” It’s set to be an emotional conclusion, too. “We did [make] our executives cry, which I felt was a good sign,” they said of the meeting in which they pitched the complete arc to Netflix. Let the speculation begin.
When will Stranger Things season 5 be released?
An exact release date has yet to be confirmed, but we do know that the show will be back in 2025. Praise be.
