View gallery

Stranger Things 5 has ignited a wave of excitement among devoted fans of the sci-fi series, who are eagerly anticipating the conclusion of this beloved show. Since its debut in 2016, the acclaimed Netflix series has captivated audiences worldwide and is now poised to wrap up its storyline with the highly anticipated fifth season, expected to be released sometime in 2025.

Hollywood Life has compiled all the latest updates and details we currently know about the upcoming fifth and final season.

A recent YouTube video showcased the dark and foreboding set, with one actor commenting, “Season 4 was big, but season 5 definitely feels bigger,” hinting at the epic scale of the final season.

In January, Netflix officially announced that production for season 5 had commenced. The exciting news was accompanied by a black and white photograph of the cast gathered in a room, eagerly preparing to film the final season. This photo featured beloved cast members such as Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Finn Wolfhard, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Charlie Heaton, Natalia Dyer, Joe Keery, Cara Buono, Maya Hawke, Linda Hamilton, Amybeth McNulty, Jamie Campbell Bower, Priah Ferguson, Brett Gelman, and the renowned Duffer Brothers.

The creative team took to Instagram to unveil the episode titles for the upcoming season. The video, which played the iconic theme song in the background, revealed the intriguing titles: “The Crawl,” “The Vanishing of _____,” “The Turnbow Trap,” “Sorcerer,” “Shock Jock,” “Escape From Camazotz,” “The Bridge,” and “The Rightside Up.” Additionally, it was confirmed that this thrilling horror series will return to the screens in 2025.

The team took to Instagram to announce the titles of the upcoming episodes in the fifth season. The video, featuring the iconic theme song in the background, disclosed episode names: “The Crawl,” “The Vanishing of _____,” “The Turnbow Trap,” “Sorcerer,” “Shock Jock,” “Escape From Camazotz,” “The Bridge,” and “The Rightside Up.” They also confirmed that the horror series will return to screens in 2025.

Volume 1 of season 4 premiered on May 27, 2022, perfectly timed for Memorial Day weekend. Volume 2 followed on July 1, just ahead of the Fourth of July celebrations. The fourth season made its debut nearly three years after the third season was released in 2019. In the gripping season 4 finale, the Stranger Things team faced off against Vecna, but their battle with this formidable foe is far from over.

Season 5 was initially slated to begin filming in 2023, but it faced delays caused by the writers’ strike and the SAG-AFTRA strike, which halted production across Hollywood, pushing the filming to a portion of 2024.

Despite the overwhelming love and support for Stranger Things, all good things must eventually conclude. On February 17, 2022, Netflix made the announcement that season 5 would be the final chapter for Stranger Things.

Exploring the Exciting Details of ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5

Stranger Things is set to come full circle in its final season, returning the spotlight to Will Byers. Ross Duffer shared with Variety during Noah Schnapp’s Power of Young Hollywood cover story, released on August 7, “Will really takes center stage again in 5. This emotional arc for him is what we feel is going to hopefully tie the whole series together. Will is used to being the young one, the introverted one, the one that’s being protected. So part of his journey is not just about sexuality — it’s about Will coming into his own as a young man.

Just as filming was about to commence in May 2023, the Duffer Brothers released a note on the official Stranger Things writers’ page, providing an update on the status of season 5. “Duffers here. Writing does not stop when filming begins. While we’re excited to start production with our amazing cast and crew, it is not possible during this strike. We hope a fair deal is reached soon so we can all get back to work. Until then — over and out. #wgastrong,” the Duffer Brothers tweeted.

Duffers here. Writing does not stop when filming begins. While we’re excited to start production with our amazing cast and crew, it is not possible during this strike. We hope a fair deal is reached soon so we can all get back to work. Until then — over and out. #wgastrong

— stranger writers (@strangerwriters) May 6, 2023

The Writers Guild of America initiated a strike on May 1 after negotiations between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which includes notable companies such as Netflix, Amazon, and Disney, fell apart. The WGA members are advocating for improved pay, better residuals, staffing requirements, and clarity on the use of AI. Nearly two months later, SAG-AFTRA also joined the strike. As of August 2023, both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA remain on strike.

On March 21, 2023, the Stranger Things writers’ Twitter account teased an exciting update about the fifth and final season. “Season 5 is like if season 1 and 4 had a baby. And then that baby was injected with steroids,” the tweet read.

Season 5 is like if season 1 and 4 had a baby. And then that baby was injected with steroids.

— stranger writers (@strangerwriters) March 21, 2023

During his March 2023 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Gaten Matarazzo shared his bittersweet feelings about saying goodbye to the series. “There’s kind of an excitement there because you always want to wrap it up and see how these characters are going to finally develop one last time, and how they’re going to finish their journeys. But also, there’s a deep fear. Not only has it been amazing, but it’s been a great source of job security for a while. Back to freelance,” he expressed.

When discussing his hopes for the final season, Gaten stated, “I’d love to see a good launchpad for growth. I’d love to see these characters thrive and move on from the trauma they’ve endured over the past few years.” You ain’t kidding.

Back in January 2023, Noah Schnapp revealed during a TikTok Live session that Stranger Things season 5 would start filming in May 2023. He reassured fans that his schooling at the University of Pennsylvania would not conflict with the shooting schedule, saying, “I’m done with school in May, and starting to shoot in May.”

On Stranger Things Day, celebrated on November 6, 2022, the title for the premiere episode of season 5 was announced. The eagerly anticipated premiere is officially titled “Chapter One: The Crawl.” The first episode of this final season is penned by the talented Duffer Brothers.

On September 20, 2022, the Stranger Things writers confirmed that the grid for the fifth and final season is officially “complete.” They unveiled all major plot points for season 5, although the entire photo was blurred to prevent any potential spoilers. Currently, it appears that season 5 will consist of eight thrilling episodes, with episode 7 being particularly significant. Parts of the plot remain blacked out, along with the blurring to prevent any leaks.

Grid complete pic.twitter.com/vAX7z4NAJY

— stranger writers (@strangerwriters) September 20, 2022

On August 2, 2022, the Stranger Things writers announced that the writers’ room for the first and final season was officially in session. “Day 1,” the tweet stated. The writers shared a photo of a whiteboard featuring just the Stranger Things 5 logo. Ross Duffer had previously indicated that the writers’ room would commence in August. “We’re going to take a little vacation in July,” Ross told Collider. “And then we’re going to come back. I know that the writer’s room is going to start in that first week of August.”

Day 1 pic.twitter.com/9m44RkJnc3

— stranger writers (@strangerwriters) August 2, 2022

When Netflix announced that season 4 would be divided into two volumes, they also included a letter from the creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, collectively known as the Duffer Brothers. They expressed that while season 4 would be “bigger than ever,” it also marks “the beginning of the end.”

Their letter continued: “Seven years ago, we outlined the complete story arc for Stranger Things. At that time, we anticipated the story would span four to five seasons. It has proven too extensive to conclude in four, but — as you will soon witness — we are not rushing toward our finale. Season 4 will serve as the penultimate season; season 5 will be the grand finale.

There are still numerous thrilling stories to explore within the Stranger Things universe; new mysteries, new adventures, and unexpected heroes await. However, we hope you stay with us as we conclude the tale of a powerful girl named Eleven and her courageous friends, a broken police chief, a fierce mother, a small town called Hawkins, and an alternate dimension known only as the Upside Down. As always, we are incredibly grateful for your patience and support.

The Duffer Brothers have consistently maintained that Stranger Things will not continue indefinitely. However, season 4 was never intended to be the series finale. “Season 4 won’t be the end,” Ross stated in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in August 2020. “We have a clear vision of the ending and know when it will occur. [The pandemic] has allowed us the time to carefully consider our path forward and determine what is best for the show. This reflection has provided us with a clearer understanding of how long we need to tell this story.”

Stranger Things director and executive producer Shawn Levy fully endorses the Duffer Brothers’ decision to conclude the series with season 5. “We never wanted to continue without purpose, and we aimed to tell only the story that the brothers envisioned with clarity,” Shawn remarked in an interview with Screen Rant in March 2022. “It has been evident for some time that they are fully aware of where we are headed, and this is the intended arc. We wouldn’t want to stretch our time beyond that vision and clarity. Rather than dwelling on the inevitable end of season 5, I want to emphasize that the wait for season 4 has been long, but I assure you, the audience will find it worthwhile.”

In a September 2022 interview with E! News, Shawn revealed that the final season “will definitely have a stronger focus on Hawkins.” Although he did not disclose a premiere date, he promised that season 5 “will not be smaller” than season 4. “Our ambitions remain high,” Shawn stated, “and given that the audience has grown alongside the cinematic scope of the show, I don’t expect us to deviate from that approach as we head into season five.”

Confirmed Cast for ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5

Regarding the confirmed cast for season 5, we anticipate the return of the surviving characters from season 4. This means that Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Winona Ryder, and David Harbour will reprise their roles in the final season. Additionally, it has been confirmed that Brett Gelman, Amybeth McNulty, and Cara Buono will also return.

At Netflix’s TUDUM event on June 17, Arnold Schwarzenegger excitedly announced that his Terminator co-star Linda Hamilton would be joining the cast of season 5. “I’m thrilled to announce that my old friend, a fantastic actress, and a total badass, is joining the Netflix family in one of my favorite shows, which I know you all love, too,” he stated.

Linda Hamilton confirmed the thrilling news via a video message, sharing, “I don’t know how to be both a fangirl and an actress at the same time, but I’ll work on it. It’s wonderful to see you, Arnold. Let’s plan dinner soon. And to everyone else, I’ll see you in Hawkins.” The Stranger Things Instagram account also shared an iconic upside-down photo of Linda, celebrating the announcement.

Hollywood Life had the opportunity to speak EXCLUSIVELY with Cara Buono in February 2023 about the fifth and final season. She expressed a desire to see more family dinners at the Wheeler household before the show bids farewell for good. “I hope there will be more scenes like in season one, where there were many family dinners,” Cara shared. “I loved it when the kids came over for dinner… so I hope there’s at least one big dinner at the Wheelers where the kids gather, creating plenty of awkward moments. That would be incredibly entertaining.”

Jamie Campbell Bower hinted at the potential return of Vecna in the fifth and final season. “He’s furious; he’s definitely not going down without a fight,” Jamie told NME in August 2022. “I don’t think he’s sulking in misery. He’s rebuilding, and he’s out for revenge. It’s like a classic Jason Voorhees scenario – you’ve made a significant mistake.”

Maya Hawke discussed her character Robin Buckley’s fate in season five. “Well, it’s the last season, so it’s likely that some characters will die. I would love to die and have a heroic moment,” she shared with Rolling Stone in September 2022. “I want to die with honor, like any actor would. However, I appreciate how the Duffer Brothers genuinely care for their actors. The reason they write so beautifully for me and everyone else is that they form deep connections with their characters and don’t want to kill them. I find that quality beautiful, and I wouldn’t wish it away.” Maya also mentioned she would only consider a spinoff if it involved Joe Keery, who plays Robin’s best friend Steve Harrington. “He’s so funny, wonderful, and intelligent, and he maintains great boundaries. He’s an excellent coworker, and I would do anything with him.”

Madelyn Cline, known for her role as Sarah Cameron in the Netflix series Outer Banks, portrayed Tina in Stranger Things. She shared with Cosmopolitan that she would “one thousand percent” be open to returning for the final season.

Anticipated Release Date & Plot Insights for Stranger Things Season 5

As of now, the fifth season does not have a confirmed release date, but it is anticipated to premiere in 2025.

“We’re not quite ready to announce a shooting start date yet,” Matt Duffer informed TVLine in June 2022. “However, much of the storyline is well mapped out.” The Duffer Brothers are aware of the heightened expectations surrounding the show’s conclusion. “The ending is the challenging part,” Matt expressed. “That’s the nerve-wracking aspect. We genuinely want to deliver a satisfying conclusion.”

Fans can likely expect a time jump between seasons 4 and 5. The timeline of Stranger Things progresses at a much slower pace than the real world, so a time jump will align the characters’ ages more closely with their actual ages. “I’m sure we will implement a time jump,” Ross stated in an interview with TVLine. “Ideally, we would have filmed [seasons 4 and 5] back to back, but there was no feasible way to do that.”

Regarding the plot, Matt revealed on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that season 5 will be “moving fast.” He elaborated, “Characters will already be actively pursuing goals and motivations, which will create a sense of urgency and make this season feel distinctly different.” He later added, “It’s going to be Return of the King-esque with numerous endings.”

As for episode runtimes, the Duffer Brothers indicated that they “don’t expect” the final season’s episodes to be as lengthy as those in season 4. Every episode of season 4 exceeded an hour, with the final three episodes running over an hour and twenty minutes. However, the series finale could potentially reach the length of a full-length film.

The final season will return to Hawkins, as the cast was divided into three separate groups in season 4. “We want to revisit many elements from season 1,” Matt also revealed during the interview. “A lot of the original character dynamics and pairings that we had in season one — there’s something gratifying about coming full circle.”

On the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Matt mentioned that season 5’s trajectory is “actually pretty blurry” at this stage, but “the last 30 minutes are quite clear in our minds. If we can ensure the journey is entertaining, we believe we have an ending that will hopefully resonate. While we cannot satisfy everyone, we aim to create something that feels right for this story.”

Reflecting on the Journey of Stranger Things

Stranger Things became a worldwide sensation upon its premiere on Netflix in 2016. The series propelled its young stars into superstardom, allowing audiences to witness their growth over the years.

Following the success of the second season, the cast reportedly received substantial pay increases for season 3 and subsequent seasons, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The cast was categorized into “different pay tiers,” with Winona and David comprising the “A tier” earning up to $350,000 per episode. The “B tier” included the younger stars such as Finn, Gaten, Caleb, and Noah, who began making $250,000 per episode. The “C tier” consisted of the older kids — Natalia, Charlie, and Joe — who started at $150,000 per episode in season 3.

At that time, Millie’s earnings were not publicly confirmed. After making $30,000 per episode alongside Finn, Gaten, and Caleb, Millie distinguished herself from the rest of the cast during renegotiations. By season 3, Millie was earning at least $250,000 like her fellow young actors, with sources indicating she could be making as much as $350,000 per episode or potentially being in her own tier at $300,000 per episode.

Key Events and Revelations from Season 4

Stranger Things season 4 introduced the series’ most formidable villain yet: Vecna. The Upside Down was created following Eleven’s confrontation with Henry Creel, who is also known as One, the first child subjected to experimentation by Dr. Brenner. When Eleven was a child, Henry/One disguised himself as Peter Ballard at the Hawkins Lab. After gaining Eleven’s trust, he betrayed her and killed the other children at the lab.

Henry/One clashed with a young Eleven, and in the process, she opened the first gate to the Upside Down while attempting to eliminate him. However, Henry/One did not perish when he was cast into the Upside Down, thus giving birth to Vecna. Vecna is the mastermind behind the chaos that has plagued Hawkins.

In Volume 2 of Stranger Things season 4, the Hawkins team, with Eleven’s aid, attempted to defeat Vecna. Amidst this intense battle, Eddie made the ultimate sacrifice, dying in Dustin’s arms, while Eleven infiltrated Max’s mind. Jason and Lucas engaged in a brutal fight, and Max came perilously close to being killed by Vecna. Joseph Quinn became an instant star with his breakout performance as Eddie Munson. Despite Eddie’s death in season 4, many fans continue to hope for his return in season 5. “He feels quite gone; it’s tough to bring him back, I’d say, but I don’t know,” Joseph remarked about the possibility of returning.

Shawn Levy addressed the potential of Eddie’s return during an interview on the 2022 Emmy Awards red carpet. “A lot of people struggle with the thought of a fifth season without any reference to Eddie. He told The Hollywood Reporter, “While it’s highly unlikely, we acknowledge your passion for Eddie. We share it too.”

Joyce and Hopper finally shared a kiss and managed to escape from Russia with Murray. They returned home to reunite with their children. However, Hawkins now lies in a state of chaos. Max did die temporarily before being revived by Eleven. Max’s brief death enabled Vecna to achieve the fourth kill he needed to open the final gate. The seismic shifts caused by these events converged at the heart of Hawkins, resulting in significant openings to the Upside Down. The conclusion of season 4 showcased the encroaching effects of the Upside Down on Hawkins, indicating that the most significant challenges for Eleven and her friends are still on the horizon. Meanwhile, Max remains in a coma following her confrontation with Vecna.

“Now that I’m here in Hawkins, I can feel him,” Will expressed to Mike regarding Vecna. “And he’s hurting. He’s still alive. It’s strange to know who it has been all along, but I can still sense his thoughts and how he perceives things. He won’t stop until he takes everything and everyone from us. We must eliminate him.”

What Lies Ahead After Season 5?

The Duffer Brothers’ letter concerning season 5 left fans with hopes for potential spinoffs in the future, as they have not dismissed the idea of expanding the Stranger Things universe. In fact, a spinoff is officially in development.

“We have some ideas,” Matt disclosed to SFX, according to NME. “In terms of any potential spinoff or continuation of Stranger Things, we always ask ourselves, ‘Is the idea exciting enough that it compels us to want to do it again?’” He further added, “I want to feel that pull of ‘I really want to do this. I’m genuinely excited about it.’ That’s why we’re being careful about what that is and whether we proceed with it.”

Ross emphasized that “the key for us is to ensure it feels like its own distinct entity, rather than merely retreading what we’ve already explored… I genuinely believe we have something quite thrilling, so we’ll see.”

In July 2022, the Duffer Brothers revealed on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that their spinoff will be “1000% different” from Stranger Things. “I’ve come across rumors about an Eleven spinoff, or a Steve and Dustin spinoff, or something involving another number. That’s simply not interesting to me because we’ve already explored all of that. We’ve dedicated countless hours to that narrative. So it will be something very different.”

Noah, who portrays Will Byers, expressed his enthusiasm for a potential spinoff. “I’m totally on board for whatever. I’m sure everyone else is as well — we’d definitely be back for spinoffs and any other opportunities that may arise,” he shared with SFX.

Shawn mentioned to Collider in August 2021 that he recognizes the “interest and strong desire for any offshoot, iteration, or extension of the franchise, characters, and mythology. While discussions are still in the early stages, they are happening.”

As for a Stranger Things movie, that remains uncertain. However, some episodes from season 4 are feature-length. “[Episodes] Episodes 7 and 9, in particular, are cinematic experiences,” Matt shared with The Wrap. “And episode 9 is a long movie.” Ross confirmed that the season 4 finale runs “over two hours. It’s a big one.” Nevertheless, a stage play is in the works, set “within the world and mythology of Stranger Things,” according to Variety.