Are you ready for the final trip to Hawkins, Indiana? If yes, then here is everything we know so far about Stranger Things Season 5.
With each new season, the hit Netflix series has continued to captivate audiences with its unique blend of sci-fi, horror, and 80s nostalgia. From the Upside Down to the Mind Flayer, the show has introduced us to some truly terrifying creatures and unforgettable moments, which has excited fans more than ever!
For months, the fandom has been buzzing with speculation about what’s to come for their favorite characters in the fifth and final season, which was officially renewed last year! After consistently breaking viewership records whenever a new season is released on Netflix, the show proves year after year its huge popularity, which has captured the interest of millions of viewers around the world!
Especially after the confirmation that the fifth season will be the last one in this beloved science fiction horror drama television series created by the Duffer Brothers. Therefore, it is reasonable for viewers to be curious about when the new season will make its comeback.
A lot of questions like, “Will it be back in 2023?” “Is June 2023 the anticipated release window?” are being raised by fans over social media and on various fan pages.
So, if you’re one of the people who wants more information on the upcoming season, then you’ve come to the right place to find out all the details. Continue reading to find out when Stranger Things Season 5 is expected to premiere on Netflix.
Is Stranger Things Season 5 coming in June 2023?
Without prolonging the release date updates any further, we want to get the first point straight to you:
Unfortunately, right now it seems like the fans will have to wait sometime for the show to hit your screens. Yes, you read it right! There’s still plenty of time left for its official comeback, which clears up any rumors and doubts surrounding the final season premiere this summer, which isn’t a possibility now as we are halfway into the month of June 2023. Hence, there is no reason to believe that the final season will premiere this early on.
For your consideration, we’ve listed some of the major reasons for its delay, which are as follows:
Everything was going according to schedule, with the writing beginning back in August 2022 and the principal photography all set to begin in May 2023, but due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike in 2023, changes in the production were made. Making it one of the biggest reasons for the release date being shifted.
The ongoing writer’s strike, which has been going on for many weeks, has significantly slowed down the creation of new episodes and interfered with the filming process. We think until the problems with the writers’ compensation aren’t resolved, the work of the final season will be held on pause until a quick solution has been made for the writers who deserve their voices to be heard.
Therefore, there is a big possibility that the series won’t return this year at all and will actually be set to make its official comeback in 2024 or maybe even later, along with other series, which depends highly on the post-production schedule, which includes some of the hectic workloads of carrying out the editing, VFX, sound, etc. of the series, which isn’t an easy task and can take up to 6 months before the final product is received, which will be appreciated by the fans.
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
Stranger Things Season 5: What to expect from the final season?
What kind of new horrors will our heroes face this time around? Well, we can assure you that you’re in for a ride as the final season will consist of eight episodes, with the first episode titled “Chapter One: The Crawl.”
Considering the title, series creators Matt and Ross Duffer previously told Tudum about the mythology and lore of the Upside Down. “We were like, ‘We know what’s going on in the Upside Down, more or less, but we want it to be unknowable. We want it to be mysterious,” Matt Duffer explained.
“But they were like, ‘Yeah, but can you write it down?’ And so we wrote it all down.” These hints at the plot can be attributed to the theme of the last season. Furthermore, the Duffers have also stated that the fifth season will delve into various lingering mysteries.
These mysteries include the government program at Hawkins Lab and “what happened to it once Henry became involved,” saying the final season will expand upon how Dr. Brenner “evolved it” into including multiple kids. In addition, the Upside Down being seemingly “frozen” on November 6, 1983, will also come into focus as a major plot point, which will be quite exciting and worth watching as a part of the final season!
That’s not all! The recently released open casting call seeking for 1988 or older vintage vehicles suggests that season 5 might be set in 1988.
Lastly, Matt and Ross Duffer told Deadline last year that a major goal with the final season is to “stick the landing.” Further adding, “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.”
season 5. chapter one. the crawl. happy stranger things day pic.twitter.com/xCdNLjD7Yt
— Stranger Things (@Stranger_Things) November 7, 2022
Stranger Things Season 5: Who will return?
The cast from the previous season is expected to return, which includes: Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers, David Harbour as Jim Hopper, Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair, Noah Schnapp as Will Byers, Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield, Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers, and Joe Keery as Steve Harrington.
The other cast members include Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley, Brett Gelman as Murray Bauman, Priah Ferguson as Erica Sinclair, Paul Reiser as Dr. Sam Owens, Jamie Campbell Bower as Henry Creel/Vecna, Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler, and Eduardo Franco as Argyle. There can be some new additions to the cast which will be disclosed later.
Moreover, some characters from past seasons can also make an appearance in the final season, maybe in a flashback scene. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens!
Stranger Things Season 5: Where to stream?
All the episodes of Stranger Things are available exclusively on Netflix, with other series of the same genre also accessible with a range of membership options. The video quality and the number of screens you can use to stream Netflix simultaneously depend on the package you choose. The basic membership starts at $9.99 per month, and the standard membership starts at $15.49 per month, with no additional cost for any of their services.
We would also like to mention that the network hasn’t released any new promos for the final season due to the sudden halt in production. So, in order to be up to date with the plot, we urge the viewers to stream the fourth season, which is set several months later, in March 1986. Joyce, Will, Eleven, and Jonathan have moved to Lenora, California, for a fresh start.
In California, Eleven struggles with the loss of her powers and being bullied in school. Meanwhile, in Hawkins, a being from the Upside Down—an entity later dubbed Vecna—begins killing the residents of Hawkins, opening new gates between the two worlds in the process. Planning to stop Vecna, Dr. Sam Owens takes Eleven to a facility to help her regain her powers. Simultaneously, Joyce and Murray fly to Russia to rescue Hopper from the Gulag in Kamchatka.
Take a look at the official trailer for Stranger Things Season 4 below:
Stranger Things: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stranger Things a true story?
The 1980s era is shown in the television series fictitious Indiana town of Hawkins. As a result, it is fictitious and not based on a genuine story.
What inspired the Duffer brothers for the series?
The Duffer Brothers created a chronology dedicated to ’80s pop culture by establishing the decade as the 1980s and developing it into a blend of mystery-fantasy-drama and supernatural themes. Some concepts and plotlines were developed based on works by Stephen King, John Carpenter, and Steven Spielberg.
Who wrote Stranger Things?
Stranger Things is directed, written, and executive produced by the Duffer Brothers, the series is also produced by Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen.
What is the Demogorgon?
The Demogorgon is a creature frequently played by Will and his friends in Dungeons and Dragons. According to D&D literature, the Demogorgon, a powerful demon prince, is “one of the most terrifying of monsters, but also one of the best-known demon lords in the D&D game.”
What is the Vecna?
Vecna is one of the most powerful monsters in the game, beginning as a common mortal sorceress before engaging in that horrible ritual out of a desire for power and eventually becoming a deity. Vecna has had an impact on all of the D&D worlds in some manner.
What was the overall reception of the fourth season?
On Rotten Tomatoes, the fourth season holds an approval rating of 88% based on 192 reviews with an average rating of 7.90/10. The site’s critical consensus reads, “Darker and denser than its predecessors, Stranger Things‘ fourth chapter sets the stage for the show’s final season in typically binge-worthy fashion.
On Metacritic, the fourth season’s first volume has a score of 69 out of 100, based on 29 reviews, indicating “generally favorable reviews”; the second volume has a score of 74 out of 100, based on 18 reviews, also indicating “generally favorable reviews.”
Stranger fam, it’s been 1 year since Kate Bush saved us from Vecna pic.twitter.com/IFg9ENBfPC
— Stranger Things (@Stranger_Things) May 27, 2023
Let us know in the comments if you’ll be streaming Stranger Things Season 5 on Netflix or not.