Stranger Things season 5: Release date speculation, cast and latest news
We're fast approaching the final battle for Hawkins.
Excitement for Stranger Things season 5 is amping up as it's been reported that the series has wrapped filming.
It's already been a long wait for season 5 and we're going to have a while longer to go, but thankfully fans have received a ton of tidbits and updates about what's happening.
Amybeth McNulty, who plays Vickie, was one of the cast members sharing the news of production wrapping, writing a heartfelt message on her Instagram.
She said: "Wrapped!! Thank you so much for allowing me to join this spectacular project with the most astounding team.
"I’ve only been here from 2021 – 2024 and the love I’ve felt in that time has been completely unmatched by any other feeling. To the cast and crew, you know I love you, thank you for sharing your craft and kindness.
"Don’t ever be a stranger I love youuu!! Thank you thank you thank you x".
As we wait for more news on season 5, here's everything we know so far.
Stranger Things season 5 release date speculation
Season 5 will be released sometime in 2025. While we don't have a specific release date just yet, we'd guess season 5 will be released by spring 2025.
In an earnings call towards the end of July 2024, Netflix’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos mentioned that the 2025 slate will include the new season of Stranger Things, as well as Wednesday season 2, with a more recent teaser trailer confirming the 2025 window.
Production has now wrapped, meaning the post-production process will begin.
Those keeping close tabs on the production in Atlanta will know that Netflix previously unveiled a behind-the-scenes clip to celebrate filming having reached the halfway mark.
The footage confirmed three new castings, as well as giving fans a first look at Terminator star Linda Hamilton on set and shots of the original cast.
Filming began in January 2024. The Duffer Brothers confirmed the start of production back in January with a full cast photo.
While filming was expected to begin in June 2023, it had to be delayed due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which have since been resolved.
We also don't yet know what release model the new season will take. Seasons 1 to 3 all released their entire runs in one go, while season 4 was released in two volumes, with volume 1 containing seven episodes and volume 2 containing two.
Whether season 5 sticks with this new split model, we'll have to wait and see.
What are the episode titles in Stranger Things season 5?
Stranger Things season 5 will consist of eight episodes, with the episode titles below. The episode 2 title appeared redacted in the Netflix reveal and appears to pay homage to the season 1 episode The Vanishing of Will Byers.
- Episode 1 - The Crawl
- Episode 2 - The Vanishing Of...
- Episode 3 - The Turnbow Trap
- Episode 4 - Sorcerer
- Episode 5 - Shock Jock
- Episode 6 - Escape From Camazotz
- Episode 7 - The Bridge
- Episode 8 - The Rightside Up
We also have some details about the episode lengths, with cast member Maya Hawke teasing an epic fifth and final season, telling Podcrushed that the eight-part series is the equivalent of "eight movies".
"Season 4 and season 5 are very connected. Season 4 had a part 1 and part 2 because they separated them, so the last two episodes came out at a different time, which is unusual for streaming," she said.
She continued: "But this is its own season. It is a continuation, but it's the finale. And it has been a long time since last season."
Season 5 will also feature a time jump to explain the young cast's ageing and bring the characters' ages in line with the actors'.
In an interview with Variety, executive producer Shawn Levy said that the team would "use all the tools available to us" to make the actors look younger, with some inferring that digital de-ageing would be utilised to achieve the effect.
However, speaking with Deadline, Levy confirmed this was not the case, saying: "No, I kind of was surprised that one sentence I said around this topic travelled so widely."
He continued: "The bottom line is, we know what we're doing on this show. Our cast is brilliant. And these characters that the Duffers [Matt and Ross Duffer, showrunners] have created are so vivid. I'm not worried about everyone suiting back up and bringing them to life."
When is Stranger Things season 5 set?
A brief description of Stranger Things season 5, released as part of the episode title reveal video, says: "In the fall of 1987, one last adventure begins."
While that doesn't reveal much, it confirms that season 5 will take place around a year after season 4.
What will the plot of Stranger Things season 5 be?
Stranger Things season 5 will follow the final battle for Hawkins, after season 4 was left on a major cliffhanger.
While we don't exactly know what that will entail, we do have some clues.
When season 5 was first announced, the Duffer Brothers said in a statement that the "complete story arc" was planned out seven years ago, and that the fifth outing will see the culmination of that plan.
In a later interview with SFX, they confirmed that the ending still fits "the rough sketch" they created, but it has become "more interesting and exciting than originally envisioned by [them] and Ross".
They said: "We know what the ending is. It's conceivable that it changes, but I think it's unlikely because it's one of those endings that just feels, and has always felt, right. And it also feels sort of inevitable. Then when you come up with it, you're like, 'Oh yeah, well, that is absolutely what is has to be.'"
Meanwhile, Dustin Henderson actor Gaten Matarazzo opened up to RadioTimes.com about what season 5 has in store, revealing that the stars didn't even know the ending when they started filming.
He said: "It's huge, of course, it's one of the biggest seasons of television that I think we've seen very, very long time. And I think, a lot of people are saying it could be like a mix of [season] 1 and [season] 4, primarily. And I think that'd be a cool way of looking at it. But scale-wise, it's through the roof."
As for who might not make it out alive? "Everybody's potentially in danger," added Matarazzo. "That's kind of what makes this show so exciting, and what I think is going to make this season so exciting."
Elsewhere, Wolfhard has teased that the series is going to "answer an insane amount of questions".
He added: "I think a lot of people will be happy... It's the last season, so we kind of want to get back to the roots of why the show was so special in the first place, and why the dynamics are so special in the first place, and sort of getting back to that."
Plus, we know it's going to be an emotional one. While promoting his film Deadpool & Wolverine, producer Shawn Levy also told RadioTimes.com: "It’s not too far away but also not soon enough.
"I acknowledge that. I can just tell you what I was doing - at the end of when the Duffers pitched the story of season 5, nobody wasn’t crying, including me. Not a dry eye in that room."
The season is also sure to tie in some details from the West End play, The First Shadow, which focuses on Henry Creel/Vecna's backstory.
For Stranger Things Day last year, the Duffer brothers released the first line of the script – so we know exactly how the show will begin. Buckle in, it's a chilling one.
"Darkness. The sound of cold wind. Groaning trees. And... a child's voice. Singing a familiar song," the script reads.
Of course, theories on which song the script could be referencing have flooded the internet in the wake of the scene reveal.
Many believe it could be Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill, which ultimately didn't save Max (Sadie Sink) from succumbing to Vecna, but which could be keeping her alive, should she be in a different dimension.
Other popular theories include Will's season 1 favourite, Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash.
Also chatting about how emotional the series will be, Ross Duffer told The Wrap that when the creators pitched the final outing to Netflix "they really responded well to it".
"I mean, it was hard. It’s the end of the story. I saw executives crying who I’ve never seen cry before, and it was wild."
Another thing we know is that season 5 is likely to feature a time jump, as Ross Duffer previously told TVLine: "I'm sure we will do a time jump. Ideally, we'd have shot [seasons 4 and 5] back to back, but there was just no feasible way to do that. So these are all discussions we're going to have with our writers when we start the room up."
During an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Stranger Things star David Harbour said of the scripts: "Before the strike we were sent scripts, they're terrific, as per usual. They continue to outdo themselves, these currently-on-strike writers called the Duffer Brothers."
Talking about the season 5 finale, he added: "It's a hell of an undertaking, too. I mean, the set-pieces and the things in the scripts that we saw are bigger than anything we've done in the past."
Harbour also revealed that the fifth instalment will pick up shortly after the events of the season 4 finale, adding: "After where season 4 ended — when you watch us on that hill looking at the ash and the smoke and fires – we're going to start somewhere after that. So you've got to imagine the world is a different place."
During an interview with Josh Horowitz on his Happy Sad Confused podcast, the Duffer Brothers teased a brisk pace for the final season, which will take place in Hawkins and pick up from season 4's cliffhanger ending, which saw The Upside Down finally merge with the regular world.
Duffer added: "For the first time ever, we don't wrap things up at the end of [season] 4, so... it's going to be moving pretty fast. 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."
Meanwhile, Levy promised that the final season of the hit show will be "as big as any of the biggest movies that we see".
He added to Total Film: "There’s no way to be contiguous with season 4, and not, frankly, expand scale and depth. It’s major, major, cinematic storytelling that happens to be called a TV series."
We can't wait to find out more!
Stranger Things season 5 cast: Who will return?
After the Duffer Brothers posted a full cast picture when filming began, we've got a bit of an idea as to who we're expecting to see back in business.
Here's the full cast list as we currently know it – including the newcomers who have been announced.
- Noah Schnapp as Will Byers
- Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers
- David Harbour as Jim Hopper
- Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven/Jane Hopper
- Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler
- Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson
- Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair
- Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield
- Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler
- Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers
- Joe Keery as Steve Harrington
- 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 Peter Ballard/Henry Creel/One/Vecna
- Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler
- Gabriella Pizzolo as Susie
- Linda Hamilton as TBC
- Nell Fisher as TBC
- Jake Connelly as TBC
- Alex Breaux as TBC
Of course, it wouldn't be Stranger Things without our "original four", with the behind-the-scenes clip during production teasing more scenes with the four of them back together.
In particular, Levy has promised a strong storyline for Noah Schnapp's character Will, telling RadioTimes.com: "When we give Noah the juicy stuff, he delivers, and season 5 will be doing that once again."
Max Mayfield's fate was left up in the air at the end of season 4 – although the cast picture posted to celebrate the start of production confirmed her return.
Recently, Max actress Sadie Sink opened up about what her fan-favourite character has in store in season 5, after her fate was left up in the air following season 4's emotional ending.
While Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) rescued Max from Vecna (Jamie Campbell-Bower), the character was left comatose.
When asked whether the fact that Sink is still shooting is proof that Max makes it out of the coma, Sink simply answered: "They love having me run."
It does appear that Max will make her mark on the season, though, as Matt Duffer confirmed: "She’s going to play a part."
Ross Duffer was quick to stop too much being said, however, adding: "But we don’t want to reveal how that’s possible."
Yet Matt Duffer later also said: "We did film a scene the other day with [Sink] that was just absolutely heartbreaking. I don’t know how she hits those notes."
Millie Bobby Brown has also been sharing snaps from set, showing fake blood pouring from her nose – which can only mean she'd been filming some epic scenes with Eleven using her powers.
Joining the line-up as a newcomer is Linda Hamilton, whose casting was announced at a TUDUM fan event. She said at the time: "I don’t know how to be a fangirl and an actress at the same time. I’m gonna work on that."
More recently, Nell Fisher, Jake Connelly and Alex Breaux have also been announced for season 5, although all of their roles are currently under wraps.
Two characters that likely won't be back for more are Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) and Dr Brenner (Matthew Modine), who both met their ends in season 4. However, Quinn told RadioTimes.com about how pleased he was with Eddie's journey.
"I think there's a great beginning, there's a great middle and a great end for the character," he told us.
"And as an actor, you want characters with those kinds of arcs. So whilst it would have been great to come back for another season and get together with all those lovely people again, I think it was a brilliantly realised ending for a brilliantly written character."
However, Quinn has recently been hinting that Eddie could make a return in some manner - so could we be seeing the guitar hero again? We're not ruling anything out.
Meanwhile, Modine told RadioTimes.com about how he'd love to return – so perhaps that door isn't completely shut either.
Elsewhere, it seems one beloved character won't be returning despite making it out of season 4 alive – Eduardo Franco's Argyle.
Introduced in season 4, Argyle was a friend of Jonathan Byers (played by Charlie Heaton). He quickly became a key part of the season, rescuing Jonathan, Will (Noah Schnapp), Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Agent Harmon (Ira Amyx) before helping Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) fight Vecna.
Asked if he'll be part of the final season, he told Steve Varley on the Steve Varley Show: "It's nice to hear that there's, you know, concern or something, you know what I mean? But I never got a phone call. So I think, yeah, I think that's it."
On the bright side, things are (for once) looking hopeful for Will, after Schnapp teased a "beautiful" ending for the character.
"I can just tell you that I'm very very excited for what's to come. I think they did a great job with Will's character this season, and beautifully addressed everything they needed to," he told Forbes. "The way they closed the show is just perfect – the story started with Will, and it’ll end with Will."
Is there a trailer for Stranger Things season 5?
No, there isn't a full-length trailer available for Stranger Things season 5 just yet, but we'll make sure to keep this page updated as soon as we have any further news or a trailer becomes available.
What we do have is a teaser from production, which was released to celebrate filming being halfway done.
As well as showing our new faces in action, the teaser also sees the original cast reflecting on the past decade of their lives filming Stranger Things.
Taking a wander through the show's incredible wardrobe department, Sink said: "We’re just kind of savouring every single moment."
Meanwhile, Vecna actor Campbell-Bower can be seen back in his hair and makeup chair, saying: "Season 4 was big. Season 5 definitely feels bigger."
Much to fans' delight, Mike actor Wolfhard confirmed more scenes "with the original four" - Will (Noah Schnapp), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Mike (Wolfhard) - after Will's return to Hawkins.
Will Stranger Things season 5 be the final season?
Yes! When season 5 was announced, it was confirmed that it would be the final season of the show.
However, the creators and stars haven't ruled out the story continuing in other ways. Recently, Matarazzo chatted to RadioTimes.com about potential spin-offs.
He said: "It definitely will be a bookend. I think it will wrap up really nicely. And I don't think Matt and Ross will want to approach anything like that for a long time.
"So if you were to ask me a year from now if I wanted to come back, I'd probably be like, 'I’m gonna do some other stuff for a bit initially,' but who knows what it's going to be like?
"I would love to see, potentially, if there's a continuation of Dustin after [season] 5, if any of us make it up to that point, I would love to see what would happen, what Dustin would be like as a 30-year-old. And I would love to see at tackling that, it could be a lot of fun."
Stranger Things seasons 1-4 are available on Netflix now. Sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
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Authors
Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor for Radio Times, covering everything from Doctor Who, Star Wars and Marvel to House of the Dragon and Good Omens. She previously worked at Metro as a Senior Entertainment Reporter and has a degree in English Literature.
