Stranger Things <\/em>knows how to cause a stir. Three months before Season 4\u2019s debut, the creators of the Netflix series revealed lots of info about the upcoming season. However, amid all the hubbub, one piece of information stood out: Stranger Things 5 <\/em>will be the show\u2019s final season. With the end almost in sight, here\u2019s what to expect from Stranger Things 5<\/em>, including speculation on the series\u2019 release date, cast, trailer reveals, and other updates.<\/p>\n Warning: Spoilers for <\/strong>Stranger Things 4<\/strong><\/em> follow.<\/strong> When Stranger Things<\/em> debuted in the summer of 2016, it did so with little fanfare and even less marketing. But Netflix execs underestimated the draw of a series that mixed the \u201980s idealism of Steven Spielberg with the horror of Stephen King, and the show soon became one of the streaming service\u2019s biggest flagship series.<\/p>\n The creators of the series, Matt and Ross Duffer (better known as the Duffer Brothers), previously confirmed that Stranger Things<\/em> 4 would not be the final season,<\/a> but they also acknowledged that they knew exactly how the show would end. In an open letter to fans shared on Feb. 17, 2022, the Duffer Brothers revealed Season 4 would be released in two volumes, followed by a fifth and final season.<\/p>\n So, let\u2019s get into it, nerds.<\/p>\n With each season, the story of Stranger Things <\/em>progresses a year at a time. For example, Season 4 was set in 1986, so audiences naturally expected Season 5\u2019s events to happen in 1987. But the new season might make an even more significant jump. Ross Duffer revealed in a June 7 interview<\/a> with TVLine <\/em>that because the show\u2019s young stars have visibly aged so much in recent years, the final season will need to implement a time jump. \u201cI\u2019m sure we will do a time jump,\u201d Duffer said. \u201cIdeally, we\u2019d have shot [Seasons 4 and 5] back to back, but there was just no feasible way to do that. So these are all discussions we\u2019re going to have with our writers when we start the room up.\u201d<\/p>\n Whether or not there is a time jump, fans know the title of the finale season\u2019s premiere episode. On Nov. 6, 2022, Stranger Things Day, the Duffer Brothers tweeted the cover of the opening script, titled \u201cThe Crawl.\u201d<\/p>\n As of the Stranger Things 4<\/em> finale, the Upside Down has broken through into Hawkins, and the town is in ruins. The show is setting up for the final battle between Vecna and Eleven. Will\u2019s sixth sense will also be a factor, and Max\u2019s coma seems significant. The ongoing satanic panic in Hawkins is also important, as the \u201cearthquake\u201d the media claims was the reason for the town\u2019s shake-up has people believing the city is cursed.<\/p>\n When Netflix announced the renewal of Season 4<\/a> in 2019, the streamer also reported an overall deal with the Duffers, promising new stories would come from them. At the time, viewers assumed that included a possible Season 5 and beyond for Stranger Things,<\/em> even though the statement didn\u2019t explicitly state that.<\/p>\n The Duffers\u2019 Feb. 17, 2022 open letter officially confirmed Season 5 would indeed happen. Although there weren\u2019t many details in the letter, one thing did stick out: the mention of new mysteries to come \u201cwithin the world of Stranger Things.<\/em>\u201d So while Season 5 is the end of the series, it\u2019s not the franchise\u2019s end. The Duffers have since confirmed at least one spinoff is in the works<\/a>.<\/p>\n The show\u2019s writing team dropped the first clue as to the final season\u2019s production timeline on Aug. 2, 2022, confirming writing for the season officially began that day<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, the season faced significant delays in 2023 during the writers\u2019 and actors\u2019 strikes. After both strikes were resolved in November 2023<\/a>, production on Season 5 is expected to pick up either at the end of the year or the beginning of 2024.<\/p>\n Although Stranger Things 4<\/em>, Vol. 2 featured a few deaths, the core cast of kids are expected to head back to Hawkins for Season 5. Millie Bobby Brown should return as Eleven, Finn Wolfhard as Mike, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas, Noah Schnapp as Will, and, despite her character being in a coma, Sadie Sink will hopefully be back as Max. <\/p>\n Natalia Dyer is expected to be back as Will\u2019s sister Nancy, Charlie Heaton as Will Byers\u2019 brother Jonathan, and Joe Keery as Steve filling out their love triangle. Also likely coming back: Priah Ferguson as Lucas\u2019 sister Erica, Maya Hawke as Robin, and going off the final shots, Amybeth McNulty as Robin\u2019s love interest Vickie.<\/p>\n The Duffers\u2019 letter also mentioned \u201ca broken police chief\u201d and a \u201cferocious mom,\u201d which refers to Hopper and Joyce, played by David Harbour and Winona Ryder. Fans will also probably see Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler, Brett Gelman as Murray Bauman, and Eduardo Franco as Argyle. Sadly, the Duffers confirmed Eddie is gone<\/a>, so chances are Joseph Quinn is done with the series.<\/p>\n The Duffers also confirmed there would be flashbacks to fill in Brenner\u2019s years with One<\/a> and how he became the imprisoned \u201corderly\u201d Eleven met. That means Matthew Modine will be back, as will Jamie Campbell Bower as One\/Henry\/Vecna.<\/p>\n And there\u2019s one new face joining the cast. The Terminator <\/em>star Linda Hamilton will enter Hawkins in an undisclosed role<\/a> for the final season.<\/p>\nPrepare For A Time Jump<\/h2>\n
There Will Be Spinoffs<\/h2>\n
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<\/picture><\/noscript><\/div>There\u2019s 1 New Cast Member<\/h2>\n
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<\/picture><\/noscript><\/div>It\u2019s Going To Be A Long Wait<\/h2>\n