It’s official: the fifth season of Stranger Things will be the last. Back in February 2022, the Duffer brothers announced the news themselves in an open letter shared with fans along with the official poster for the fourth season. The upcoming season 5 of the series promises to solve all the secrets and mysteries that kept the viewer in suspense. Here is everything we know about the upcoming season: from the release date to the expected storylines.
excuse our mess… pic.twitter.com/38FRV5pT9A
— Stranger Things (@Stranger_Things) September 12, 2023
Netflix recently posted another teaser for the series’ highly anticipated finale on Twitter, and the loyal fanbase was quick to try and find hints of the upcoming season. The short video shows dirty debris on the floor and the sign of the famous Scoop Ahoy ice cream shop lying among the wreckage, which caught the viewers’ attention because it is the same shop where Steve (Joe Keery) and Robin (Maya Hawke) worked together. The teaser was captioned: “Sorry for the mess”. But nothing more was revealed.
The writers finished developing the plot in September 2022. They started producing the series, but filming stopped due to the WGA strikes in early May. However, after the conflict was resolved, the writers resumed work, and this will definitely be the last season – it will answer the questions that everyone has been asking, but the release date of Stranger Things season 5 is still a mystery. According to speculation, it could happen at the end of 2025 or 2026.
A number of star actors are expected to return, including David Harbour, Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin) and, of course, Millie Bobby Brown. The role of Will Byers, played by Noah Schnapp, will be key, especially in light of his recent interviews and revelations. Mike, played by Finn Wolfard, will also play a major role, especially in his relationship with Will.
The fifth season promises to be an epic conclusion to the saga. The Duffer brothers have hinted that they will destroy the mythology of the Upside Down and finally answer the questions that fans have had since the series began. They also previously told TV Line that there will be a time jump and confirmed to Collider that the last season will be mainly set in Hawkins and the Upside Down – there will be no more jumps between Russia, California and Indiana.
David Harbour is said to know how the series will end, leading to a lot of speculation. Fans of Eddie can expect his death in season four to have huge implications in the upcoming season. And since the focus is on Will’s character development, especially his sexuality and relationship with Mike, there is a lot of anticipation about how this dynamic will develop.
Jamie Bauer has also hinted at a return next season, so will we see Vekna again? He’s not dead, and this entire season will be dedicated to taking him down once and for all. On 29 August, JCB Bauer shared with NME that Vekna will most likely return in season 5, and he will return with a vengeance from hell. “He’s angry, he’s very angry,” Bauer said. “I don’t think he’s gone to lick his wounds in misery. He’s recovering and he’s out for blood. You made a big mistake.”
Although Bauer has not yet confirmed whether he has signed a multi-season contract, Will’s mention to Mike that he could still feel Vekna’s presence during the final is almost enough confirmation. “I think there’s a connection between Vekna and Will that has yet to be explored,” he continued. “As a fan, I would be interested in seeing more about it.”
Although the exact number of episodes has not been confirmed, Matt Duffer mentioned on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that the fifth season will be standard size, unlike the super-sized fourth season. However, it is expected that there will be a film in the series finale. The duration is similar to the season 4 finale.
The creative duo previously told The Wrap that Netflix executives shed real tears when they shared their ideas for the fifth season. “We have a plan for Season 5, we pitched it to Netflix, and they’ve been very receptive to it,” Ross said. “I mean, it was hard. It’s the end of the story. I saw executives crying, which I’ve never seen before, and it was wild.”
The Duffer brothers also hinted that while Stranger Things may be coming to an end, their universe is not. “There are still many more exciting stories to tell in the world of Stranger Things – new mysteries, new adventures, new unexpected characters.” The Duffer brothers also stated that they would like to pass the spin-off on to someone new. “The idea, ultimately, is to pass the baton to someone else, someone who is hopefully really talented and passionate,” Matt added during Happy Sad Confused. “Even the idea that Ross and I would, say, do a pilot episode and leave it, I think it’s silly. You really need to be there from start to finish. I think we need to find a partner to help us with that.”
We’ll see, as they say, in time.
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