The cult of “Stranger Things” is no stranger to us. Netflix’s blockbuster series is entering its eighth year as a streaming phenomenon, and there’s still one season left before the founding members of the Hawkins, Ind., Hellfire Club finally hang up their dice.
The fifth and final season of Stranger Things is expected to premiere in 2025, although that date could fluctuate due to delays caused by the historic double strike of the Writer’s Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild over the summer. (The WGA has since resumed work; SAG-AFTRA remains on strike.) It will likely be the last time the series’ now-expanded cast of young actors, starring Millie Bobby Brown and Finn Wolfhard, appear together for the foreseeable future already expressed the desire to continue. Series creators Matt and Ross Duffer have also set their sights beyond Hawkins, overseeing an adaptation of Stephen King and Peter Straub’s novel The Talisman, as well as a new Death Note based on the popular Japanese manga and anime series based.
But the Dungeon Master’s Guide isn’t turned on its head yet. Netflix has big plans for the next chapter of the franchise – including multiple spin-offs across a variety of media, from stage and screen to print and video games – that will continue to keep the brand relevant for years to come. Here’s everything you need to know about the future of Stranger Things.
De-age this!
The Hellfire Club prepares to take the fight to Vecna in the second volume of Stranger Things’ fourth season. (Photo: Courtesy of Netflix) (Courtesy of Netflix)
In a recent interview with Deadline, Stranger Things producer and director Shawn Levy insisted that the series will not use AI to make the show’s cast look youthful. This is a rumor accidentally spread by Levy himself. Speaking to Variety in October, the “Deadpool 3” director noted that the series will “use every tool at our disposal” to avoid making the age difference between the actors and their characters too obvious.
One could interpret these “tools” to include AI-powered anti-aging technology, but Levy was clear in his Deadline chat. “I was kind of surprised that a sentence I said on this topic was so widespread. The bottom line is that we know what we’re doing on this show. Our cast is brilliant. And these characters that the Duffers created are so alive.” . I’m not worried about everyone putting their suits back on and bringing them to life.”
Certainly there will be a gap between the end of Season 4 and the beginning of Season 5. The Duffers have already confirmed the likelihood of a time jump after plans to shoot the two seasons back to back proved unfeasible. With the full support of Netflix, the brothers have also planned the ending of the final season. “We made our leaders cry, which I thought was a good sign that those leaders were crying,” Matt Duffer said at a press event last November. “The only other times I saw her cry were at budget meetings.”
Shadow-Boxing
While Stranger Things writers continue to work on season 5 scripts, across the pond the curtain is preparing on Stranger Things: The First Shadow – a prequel piece that premieres on November 17th premieres in London’s West End. Written by Kate Trefy from a story by the Duffers, “The First Shadow” will expand the mythology to include Henry Creel, who grows up to become season four’s big bad, Vecna.
While the play takes place long before the events of the series, you can bet there will be plenty of Easter eggs. “We were in the middle of releasing season four with our writers. We started saying to ourselves, ‘Okay, there’s definitely more story to tell here,'” Ross Duffer said in a just-released featurette, adding that the play will introduce a new character in continuity, Patty Newby, the Developed feelings for Henry.
Meanwhile, cast member Patrick Vaill – who plays the younger version of Matthew Modine’s Dr. Martin Brenner plays – that “The First Shadow” will reveal the origin of “Upside Down”, and co-illusion designer and visual effects artist Jamie Harrison promises that audiences will see “Lots of monsters, [and] lots of blood-and-gut effects.
On this day
Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp revealed that his character Will Byers is gay and in love with his best friend Mike (Finn Wolfhard). (Photo: Courtesy of Netflix) (Courtesy of Netflix)
40 years ago today, Will Byers disappeared from Hawkins and opened up to his Hellfire Club friends about their long, strange relationship with the Upside Down. It may not be a day Will himself wants to celebrate, but Netflix is giving fans permission to have some fun by declaring November 6th Stranger Things Day. The streaming service’s various social media channels are flooded with behind-the-scenes images from the four-season series.
Tudum, Netflix’s official fan site, now offers exclusive excerpts from Stranger Things novels as well as all sorts of exclusive video and audio content. We can’t wait to see what the Is It Cake? The crew dreams of the “Stranger Things” cake content.
Stranger Things is currently streaming on Netflix