‘Stranger Things’, one of Netflix’s most fan-favorite series, features a cast of teenage characters. Surprisingly, it’s been over seven years since the first season graced our screens, and with the highly anticipated fifth season on the horizon, fans are buzzing with excitement. What’s intriguing is that while seven years have passed in the real world, the show’s narrative rarely spans such long stretches of time, typically taking place just months apart. As we await the final season’s debut, our curiosity is piqued as we’re eager to witness the visible aging of the teen cast.
Shawn Levy, the director behind this sci-fi series, has openly addressed the matter of the cast’s aging over the seasons. He’s keenly aware of these physical transformations and has assured fans that the production team is well-prepared to cleverly conceal the noticeable changes that have naturally occurred.
How will Levy handle the cast’s ageing?
Speaking to Variety, Levy explained, “We’ve already watched the cast of our show grow up in the public eye, and between 12 and 22, every human being changes profoundly. This passage of time is definitely not helping. That being said, our hair and makeup and wardrobe department are pretty exceptional, using costumes and wigs and makeup. The ’80s are also our friends in returning these young adult actors to their iconic Hawkins characters. So we’re going to use all the all the tools available to us. And I know our cast is as eager to get back to work as the rest of us.”
Season 3 and 4 are three years apart
With the development of season 5 being delayed due to the writer’s strike, it is important to note that this is not the first time the show has gone through a period where the actors visibly grew up. In the show, the gap between Seasons 3 and 4 was only six months, but in reality, because of the pandemic, the seasons were spaced nearly three years apart. This led to some characters looking noticeably different from how they did in Season 3.
Levy on writer’s strike
Levy also addressed the ongoing writer’s strike, hoping for all parties involved to make an agreement to end the strike. “I can’t speak to how important Stranger Things is to Netflix in the strike talks, and I am not inclined to speak on their behalf. I can say with confidence I think every actor, director, producer, writer, and crew member want to get back to work,” the director shared.
“I think that Stranger Things is a true flag-bearing franchise for Netflix’s brand, and everyone there is also hungry to make the next season. However, none of that can happen unless there is a fair and equitable deal made. I’m saying a small prayer that I will already be back at work once this piece runs.”