David Farnor | On 09, Dec 2023

Stranger Things is gearing up to start filming its fifth and final season this January.

The retro horror sci-fi hit, which follows the threat of creatures from the Upside Down in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, is one of the streaming giant’s biggest shows, thanks to its combination of an entertaining young ensemble, creepy CGI and nostalgic adventure vibes.

But even Netflix’s biggest (and likely most expensive) hit was halted in its steps by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes this year. Now, hot on the heels of the strike being resolved, Netflix is wasting no time in getting the gang back to Hawkins to conclude the epic series – and unsurprisingly so, given that the young cast are rapidly ageing to the point where they look much older than their characters.

Deadline reports that the 5th or 8th January is likely to be the start date, with cast members believed to be in Atlanta already for table reads ahead of filming. Indeed, the scripts were already finished before the WGA strike began but the series refused to begin production without the writers on set, only for the actors strike to delay things still further.

David Harbour has said in an interview that he was called almost immediately as SAG-AFTRA and studios had reached a tentative agreement to end the strike.

He’s teased that the show will “end in a very real way”, telling Motor City Comic Con that the scripts are “bigger than anything we’ve done in the past”.

He’ll be joined on screen once again by Winona Ryder, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton – and, new to the cast for Season 5, Linda Hamilton.

Matt and Ross Duffer have previously told Deadline that the show’s final chapter would be “Return of the King-ish, with, like, eight endings.” year that a major goal with the final season is to “stick the landing.”
“Characters are already going to be in action, they’re already going to have a goal and a drive, and I think that’s going to carve out at least a couple hours and make this season feel really different,” Matt Duffer said at the time. “I’m sure the wrap-up will be a lot longer. It’s going to be ‘Return of the King’-ish with, like, eight endings.”

 

Linda Hamilton joins Stranger Things Season 5

18th June 2023

Linda Hamilton will join the cast of Stranger Things for its fifth and final season.

The retro horror sci-fi hit, which follows the threat of creatures from the Upside Down in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, is one of the streaming giant’s biggest shows, thanks to its combination of an entertaining young ensemble, creepy CGI and nostalgic adventure vibes.

Another key to the show’s success has been its strong casting choices, including Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven and, among the grown-up supporting ensemble, David Harbour as Sheriff Hopper and Winona Ryder as Joyce. Now, the adults have got some added star company in the form of Terminator star Linda Hamilton. Her role is not yet known, but she confirmed that she is a fan of the show.

“I don’t know how to be a fangirl and an actress at the same time,” she joked during Netflix’s Tudum event this week. “I’m gonna work on that.”

The casting reveal come after creators the Duffer brothers revealed that the first episode of Season 5 will be called “The Crawl”. As to who’s crawling and where to – and whether Linda Hamilton will be crawling with them – there’s still a long wait until Season 5 arrives.

 

Stranger Things to end with Season 5

17th February 2022

Stranger Things will officially end with its fifth season, Netflix has announced.

The retro horror sci-fi hit, which follows the threat of creatures from the Upside Down in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, is one of the streaming giant’s biggest shows, thanks to its combination of an entertaining young ensemble, creepy CGI and nostalgic adventure vibes.

After a long wait, the show returns this summer for a fourth season, with the core cast once again starring – including Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Noah Schnapp as Will, Finn Wolfhard as Mike, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin and Caleb McLaughin as Lucas, Cara Buono as Karen, Maya Hawke as Robin, Winona Ryder as Joyce, Sadie Sink as Max, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan and Natalia Dyer as Nancy, plus David Harbour as Sheriff Hopper.

The fourth chapter will be a supersized outing, almost twice the length of Season 3, split into two volumes. The first volume will premiere on 27th May and the second volume will premiere on 1st July.

But while the series creators the Duffer Brothers were announcing the news, they also confirmed that Season 4 will be the penultimate chapter, with the story to wrap up in five seasons.

“Seven years ago, we planned out the complete story arc for Stranger Things,” they wrote in a letter to fans. “At the time, we predicted the story would last four to five seasons. It proved too large to tell in four, but – as you’ll soon see for yourselves – we are now hurtling toward our finale. Season 4 will be the penultimate season; Season 5 will be the last.”

“There are still many more exciting stories to tell within the world of Stranger Things,” they added. “New mysteries, new adventures, new unexpected heroes. But first we hope that you stay with us as we finish this tale of a powerful girl named Eleven and her brave friends, of a broken police chief and a ferocious mom, of a small town called Hawkins and an alternate dimension known only as the Upside Down. As always, we are grateful for your patience and support.”

You can read more about Season 4 – and see new posters and trailers – here.

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