Stranger Things will soon be back with Season 5, which finally brings this epic story to a conclusion. Here’s everything we know so far.
For over two years, Stranger Things fans have been wanting to know when the upside-down is going to be returning to our screens. Thankfully, season 5 of the show is now deep into the production phase, and everything we know about the season is beginning to grow. The hugely popular show first hit Netflix in the summer of 2016, and since then, it’s become one of the streaming service’s most popular original projects – despite the frequently long waits between seasons. Season 5 will see the return of the show’s most beloved characters as they team up once again to battle their supernatural enemies and restore peace to Hawkins, Indiana.
Where We Left Off Before Stranger Things Season 5
The finale of Stranger Things‘ last season ended with the dramatic revelation that the upside-down, a kind of mirror dimension that lies beneath our own, is beginning to seep through into the real world. This is terrible news for the small town of Hawkins, where the cracks between reality and the supernatural are at their most dangerous. Other key events in Stranger Things’ fourth season included the introduction (and death) of fan-favourite Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn), a member of the hellfire club who helped the protagonists in their battle against Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower, of Horizon), a supernatural creature who turned out to be the first test subject of the government program that created Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown, of Damsel).
Max (Sadie Sink, of Dear Zoe) was the first of Vecna’s victims that managed to escape, though she’s left comatose after using their telepathic connection to lure the villain into a trap. Meanwhile, in California, Dr Brenner (Matthew Modine, of Hard Miles) is trying to delve into Eleven’s memories to figure out the root of her powers, but she ultimately escapes and makes her way back to Hawkins to save the day. However, Vecna seems to have survived the attack, as he’s causing the upside-down to leak into the real world.
Everything We Know About the Plot of Stranger Things Season 5
The Duffer Brothers have explained that Stranger Things Season 5 will delve deeper into the lore and undiscovered truths of the upside-down than any previous season has dared. Expect plenty more creatures and villains to make their way to Hawkins from the mysterious realm, likely under Vecna’s command as he regains his power and prepares his final attack against Eleven and her friends.
Interestingly, Season 4 of Stranger Things was initially supposed to be the end, until the producers realised there was simply too much content to fit into one season, and it was split in half. This means that Season 5 will probably be a direct continuation of Season 4, picking up right where we last left off. Finn Wolfhard, the actor who plays Stranger Things’ Mike, revealed in an interview with Collider that “[Season 5] answers an insane amount of questions about the lore of Stranger Things, the world-building. I think a lot of people will be happy with getting back.”
Stranger Things Season 5 Release Date: When Does the Show Come Out?
After a long period of delay due to the WGA strikes of 2023, Netflix has finally unveiled an official release date for the upcoming fifth season of Stranger Things. The show will have its world premiere on November 6, 2025 in Los Angeles, and the first volume of episodes will land on Netflix on November 26th. These four episodes will be followed by a second volume of three episodes on December 25th, and the series finale will air on December 31st.
Stranger Things Season 5 Cast
Unsurprisingly, the majority of Stranger Things’ main cast will be returning for Season 5. The full list of returning actors and their characters can be found below:
- Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven
- Finn Wolfhard as Mike
- Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas
- Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin
- Noah Schnapp as Will
- Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield
- Natalia Dyer as Nancy
- Joe Keery as Steve
- Charlie Heaton as Jonathan
- Maya Hawke as Robin
- Winona Ryder as Joyce
- David Harbour as Hopper
Additionally, Stranger Things’ fifth season will introduce the Terminator franchise’s Linda Hamilton in an undisclosed role, alongside Nell Fisher (Evil Dead Rise), Jake Connelly (Between The Silence), and Alex Breaux (Hustlers). Little is known about these characters, but they’re sure to raise the stakes of this story even further.
Stranger Things Season 5 Official Trailer
The first trailer for Stranger Things season 5 was released on October 30th, less than a month before the first volume will be out on Netflix. The trailer shows the main characters teaming up for one final stand against Vecna, the mastermind of the Upside-Down who was introduced in the previous season. He’s clearly been set up as the show’s final villain, and his ominous refrain of “one last time” sets the stage for a battle in Hawkins unlike anything we’ve seen before.
Stranger Things Season 5 Episode Count
Maya Hawke recently revealed on the Podcrushed podcast that Stranger Things Season 5 will come together in eight episodes, describing each one as a “movie”. She claims that the episodes are very long, which makes sense given the increased runtimes of the Season 4 stories. That means that Stranger Things’ final season will probably be less binge-able than the previous ones, though each episode should be able to tell a complete story on its own.
Is Stranger Things Season 5 The End?
Yes. The fifth season of Stranger Things is officially going to be the show’s last, bringing everything together in what’s sure to be a memorable and explosive finale. The original plan for the show was four seasons, and the Duffers have spoken publicly about not wanting to drag it out too long – but the extra season was necessary to pull all the threads together. However, there are rumours of a potential spin-off project set in the world of Stranger Things that would follow some different characters – if this is true, it’s definitely plausible that we’ll see some returning faces in the future.
Stranger Things Season 5 Official Poster
Netflix has released the first official poster for Stranger Things 5 on October 31st. It’s an illustrated poster featuring all the characters in the series, with Vecna standing behind them.
Was Stranger Things Season 5 Really Cancelled?
No. Thankfully, the rumour that Stranger Things’ fifth season had been cancelled ultimately turned out to be untrue. The viral headline was nothing more than clickbait, with the Duffer brothers quickly taking to social media with further confirmation that the show was still going ahead.
Is Eduardo Franco Leaving Stranger Things?
Apparently so. Eduardo Franco played the character of Argyle in Stranger Things Season 5, one of Mike and Eleven’s close friends when they moved to California. However, with the main characters returning to Hawkins, it seems like he won’t be coming back any time soon. Fans showed their concern for the character when Franco didn’t appear on the Duffers’ social media cast reveal, and the actor later revealed that he wasn’t asked to return.
Will There Be New Characters In Stranger Things Season 5?
Almost definitely. Every season of Stranger Things has introduced a couple of new characters, though the show has a reputation for killing them off before they can make it to the next (RIP Eddie Munson!). The show has officially announced that Linda Hamilton, Luke Connelly, Nell Fisher, and Alex Breaux will also be joining the cast.
Stranger Things Season 5 Theories
Despite only having minimal information about the plot of Stranger Things Season 5, audiences have been keen to predict what they think is going to happen. There have been countless theories on the internet, and while many of them have been completely outlandish, there were also a few that made lots of sense. One of the most widely-accepted theories at the moment is the death of Steve Harrington, played by Joe Keery. The character has become a fan-favourite since his introduction way back in Season 1 thanks to his personal growth and vulnerability – which many fans think will lead to some kind of sacrifice at the end of the season.
One of the show’s most outlandish theories, posted on Reddit by @warrenrifkin, suggests that Eddie Munson might not be dead after all, and that he’ll return in Season 5 as some kind of supernatural vampire. It seems unlikely but, well, stranger things have happened.
Stranger Things 5 is coming soon. Keep checking this page for updates!