The Boroughs actor Denis O'Hare has taken to Instagram to encourage fans and Emmy voters to get out there and show Netflix that they made a big mistake.

"So, it’s Saturday and I’m just thinking about the fact that Netflix canceled The Boroughs and how really bummed I am because it was such a great show, it was such a great show and people really seem to love it," O'Hare said in a video he posted to Instagram.

"Anyway, so I think we still have a couple of days before the end of Emmy voting that everyone should just vote for The Boroughs," he continued. "You can vote for me if you like. But also like Bill Pullman and Alfre Woodard and Alfie [Alfred] Molina and Geena Davis and Clarke Peters, Seth Numrich, Alice Kremelberg and vote for ‘The Boroughs’ for Best Series and, you know, stick it to Netflix and let them know that they made a mistake, you know, because I think that would be sweet revenge. Anyway, I love the show, I miss it and, you know, whatever." You can watch the full video below.

The Boroughs series hit Netflix on May 21 and climbed to 9.6 million viewers in its first week before dropping to 3 million, debuting with an impressive 97% Rotten Tomatoes score. The streaming giant pulled the plug on June 17, with reports citing the high production costs and viewership decline as reasons for cancellation. Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, who created Netflix's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance TV series, served as executive producers and showrunners, with The Duffer Brothers producing under their Upside Down Pictures banner.

The sci-fi show, inspired by the 1985 Ron Howard movie Cocoon, took place in a seemingly picturesque retirement community that saw a group of unlikely heroes band together to stop an otherworldly threat lurking within.

The Boroughs is streaming now on Netflix. For more, check out our list of the best Netflix shows to add to your streaming queue right now, or check out our guide to all the upcoming TV shows you need to know about.

The Duffer brothers have debunked a rumor about the Stranger Things series finale that suggests Mike's theory about Eleven being alive might be real after all.

Right before the bridge collapses and we jump forward 18 months, there's weird audio that sounds like a heartbeat. Fans took this to mean that it must be a subtle indicator that Eleven actually lives, but apparently it's actually just distorted audio of bricks being laid.

"It's written in the script that it is supposed to sound like a heartbeat, but it's actually just like, what do you call it? The brick," Matt Duffer explained during a live taping of the Happy Sad Confused Podcast. "It's just distorted, but yeah, you could interpret it as that. I mean, it was meant to be interpreted as that potentially." You can check it out below at around the 37-minute mark.

When asked if they'll follow in David Chase's cryptic finale footsteps and reveal what really happened to Eleven in 20 or so years after the finale, the Duffers jokingly agreed.

"I hope people still care," Matt Duffer added. "That would be great. And then I'll say everything. Yeah. Okay. At that point. Okay. 20 years from now. 20 years from now. That's right."

Part of why some fans were so upset with the series finale was the unwillingness to take a risk and kill off a major character. Even though it certainly seems that Eleven dies, it's still just... implied. It's Mike's hopeful theory that Eleven found a peaceful life elsewhere that leads even the viewer to think she may not be dead... which is why fans were thinking there must have been a surprise final episode a la Conformity Gate that tells us what really happened to her. I guess we'll find out in 20 years.

Stranger Things is streaming now in its entirety. Tales from '85 season 1 is also streaming now on Netflix, and has been greenlit for a second season. For more, check out our Stranger Things: Tales From '85 review or our breakdown for the Stranger Things season 5 finale explained.

The Boroughs creators Jeffrey Addis and Will Matthews aren't opposed to having their own Kate Bush moment, as music plays a pretty central part in the sci-fi series.

"If there’s a great song called 'Golden Years,' let’s just do it," Addiss says in the latest issue of SFX, in reference to both the David Bowie song and the show's main cast quite literally being in their golden years. "Bruce Springsteen’s 'Thunder Road' was something really important to us, because it just felt like the right song for this show."

We don't know what year the show takes place, though Addiss and Matthews say it's meant to feel like a '90s/early 2000s blockbuster. It's also inspired by the movie Cocoon, the 1985 sci-fi pic from director Ron Howard that sees a group of seniors uncover an alien presence swimming in the pools of their retirement community. Basically, we can expect loads and loads of nostalgia.

Per the official tagline for The Boroughs: "In a seemingly picturesque retirement community, a group of unlikely heroes must band together to stop an otherworldly threat from stealing the one thing they don’t have… time." The iconic cast includes Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Clarke Peters, Alfred Molina, Bill Pullman, Ed Begley Jr., Jane Kaczmarek, Alice Kremelberg, and Dee Wallace.

"When you’ve got the people who made a lot of the magic happen on Stranger Things, the publishers want their next 'Running Up That Hill,'" added Matthews.

You might recall that Stranger Things season 4 reintroduced Kate Bush's 1985 hit Running Up That Hill, thanks to Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) choosing the song as one that gives her personal strength and power following her brother Billy's death (and I know the song itself isn't actually about grief, but it's a pretty common interpretation). The song reentered the Billboard charts and has well over 1 billion streams on Spotify, leading to a huge resurgence in Bush's already legendary career (and her formerly lost hit single 'Experiment IV' finally being added to streaming services, thank you).

The Boroughs is set to hit Netflix on May 21. For more, check out our list of the best Netflix shows to add to your streaming queue right now, or check out our guide to all the upcoming TV shows you need to know about.

The first trailer for new sci-fi series The Boroughs has arrived... and it feels a lot like Stranger Things for an older audience (and I mean that in the best way).

In the brief clip, which can be viewed below, Sam (Alfred Molina) gets dropped off at a luxurious retirement community by his daughter Claire (Jena Malone). Everything seems beautiful, fun, and idyllic... until he and a few of the other folks, including Wally (Denis O'Hare), Judy (Alfre Woodard), Renee (Geena Davis), and Art (Clarke Peters), discover what appears to be some alien activities hidden deep within The Boroughs. Armed with a knife, a gun, and a bat... they team up to figure out what the heck is going on.

Per the official tagline: "In a seemingly picturesque retirement community, a group of unlikely heroes must band together to stop an otherworldly threat from stealing the one thing they don’t have… time." Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, who created Netflix's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance TV series, serve as executive producers and showrunners, with The Duffer Brothers producing under their Upside Down Pictures banner. The cast also includes Bill Pullman, Ed Begley Jr., Jane Kaczmarek, Alice Kremelberg, and Dee Wallace.

The Duffer Brothers previously stated that the series was inspired by the movie Cocoon, the 1985 sci-fi pic from director Ron Howard that sees a group of seniors uncover an alien presence swimming in the pools of their retirement community.

The Boroughs is set to hit Netflix on May 21. For more, check out our list of the best Netflix shows to add to your streaming queue right now, or check out our guide to all the upcoming TV shows you need to know about.

It looks like the Duffer brothers have struck gold again, as just over three months after their hit sci-fi show Stranger Things came to an end, the duo's new project has hit Netflix to positive first reviews.

The Duffer-produced horror series, Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen, follows a young bride and groom in the week leading up to their disastrous wedding. The complete first season dropped onto the streamer in the early hours of March 26, 2026, and not long after, reactions from critics and audience started to roll in.

Digital Spy's Laura Jane Turner called the new body horror a "captivating," adding, "Despite some flaws and untapped potential to push its impressive themes a little further, it brings something fresh and original that's absolutely worth your time." Tom's Guide writer Rory Mellon goes as far as to liken the new series to Mike Flanagan's Haunting of Hill House, adding, "Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen appears to have come from the Alfred Hitchcock school of tension-building."

Many critics seem to be loving the wedding setting, as A Shot Magazine writer Mai El Mokadem said, the nuptials "curdles into something far more sinister – a blood-soaked, dread-filled nightmare." The Guardian's Lucy Mangan said the show highlights the horrors of commitment, and poses the question, "Can you think of anything worse than being trapped by sacred ritual to the wrong person?"

However, not everyone is a fan, as Twitter user Pramitheus pointed out that the show's bad lighting had an effect on their watching experience, and HuffPost's Candice Frederick said "Something Very Bad is Going to Happen should have been a 90-minute movie, not a series with 8, nearly one-hour episodes." Time's Judy Berman also said that the show takes "way too long" for something bad to actually happen.

At the time of writing, the show does not yet have a Rotten Tomatoes score, but has so far scored 63 out of 100 on Metacritic based on just a handful of collected reviews.

Led by showrunner Haley Z. Boston, with the Matt and Ross Duffer serving as producers, Something Bad is Going to Happen stars Camila Morrone and Adam DiMarco as the newlyweds-to-be, alongside Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ted Levine, Gus Birney, Jeff Wilbusch, and Karla Crome.

Something Very Bad is Going to Happen is out on Netflix now. For more, check out our guide to the best shows on Netflix.

Netflix has shared a first look at the Boroughs, a new sci-fi TV show from the Duffer Brothers' own Upside Down Pictures, and it's coming out a lot sooner than you'd think.

Per the official tagline: "In a seemingly picturesque retirement community, a group of unlikely heroes must band together to stop an otherworldly threat from stealing the one thing they don’t have… time." The series is set to hit Netflix on May 21. You can check out the first look photos below.

The star-studded class includes none other than Bill Pullman, Beetlejuice's Geena Davis, Doc Ock himself Alfred Molina, The Wire's Clarke Peters, Emmy Award winner Alfre Woodard, True Blood's Denis O'Hare, Hunger Games star Jena Malone, Better Call Saul star Ed Begley Jr., Jane Kaczmarek aka Lois from Malcolm in the Middle, Orange is the New Black's Alice Kremelberg, and '80s icon Dee Wallace. Sheesh.

Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, who created Netflix's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance TV series, serve as executive producers and showrunners.

"For years, we’ve wondered why no one has made a film like Ron Howard’s wonderful Cocoon since, well, Cocoon, The Duffer Brothers said (via Deadline). “Then, out of nowhere, Jeff and Will emailed us an idea for The Boroughs: a story about retirees and monsters. They were adamant that – unlike so many stories about older characters – this wouldn’t treat aging as a punchline. Instead, it would treat its characters as real people facing real challenges… along with a few supernatural ones. It was exactly the show we’d been dreaming of."

For the curious, Cocoon isn't available on streaming... but hopefully the Duffer Bros. new show will reignite some interest in the film (as it feels like lost media for now).

For more, check out our list of the best Netflix shows to add to your streaming queue right now, or check out our guide to all the upcoming TV shows you need to know about.

The first trailer for Netflix's new horror series Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen is here, teasing a nightmarish journey into marriage inspired by genre classics like Carrie and Rosemary’s Baby.

Following the Stranger Things finale last month, The Duffer Brothers are back on the streamer as executive producers of this new show, with Haley Z. Boston on board as showrunner. The Night Manager season 2 star Camila Morrone plays Rachel, the bride, while The White Lotus' Adam DiMarco portrays her fiancé Nicky.

Per the official logline, "Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen is an atmospheric horror series set at a wedding, following a bride and groom in the week leading up to their ill-fated nuptials. That’s not a spoiler – just read the title."

In the trailer, we see the pair taking a road trip to Nicky's wealthy family's vacation home ahead of their wedding, but things don't turn out as expected. "Prone to superstition and paranoia," the synopsis continues, "Rachel can't shake the relentless feeling that something bad is going to happen. Her foreboding doubts, coupled with a series of eerie coincidences and dreadful surprises, force her to ask the question: What makes two people soulmates? And worse – what could be scarier than lifelong commitment to the wrong person?"

According to EW, "each episode tracks a single day around this private ceremony, and each day Rachel’s paranoia and superstition, fed by an accelerating number of strange occurrences, ramps up."

Joining Morrone and DiMarco in the cast are Jennifer Jason Leigh as Nicky's mother, The Silence of the Lambs star Ted Levine as Dr. Cunningham, Jeff Wilbusch as Jules, Karla Crome as Nell, and Gus Birney as Portia.

Boston, whose previous works include shows like Baby Reindeer and Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities, described the new series as an exploration of "the fear of marrying the wrong person through a horror lens" (via What's On Netflix). According to the showrunner, the goal is for viewers to "feel the paranoia and the fear that Rachel is feeling," deliberately "constructing the show in terms of her discomfort."

Something Very Bad is Going to Happen arrives on Netflix on March 26. In the meantime, fill out your watchlist with our guide to the best shows on Netflix right now.

Netflix has unveiled the first look at Something Very Bad is Going to Happen, the new show from Stranger Things creators the Duffer Brothers.

Per the official logline, "Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen is an atmospheric horror series set at a wedding, following a bride and groom in the week leading up to their ill-fated nuptials. That’s not a spoiler – just read the title."

Daisy Jones and the Six star Camila Morrone plays Rachel, the bride, while The White Lotus' Adam DiMarco is her fiancé Nicky. According to Entertainment Weekly, the pair takes a roadtrip to Nicky's wealthy family's vacation home five days before their wedding, and "each episode tracks a single day around this private ceremony, and each day Rachel’s paranoia and superstition, fed by an accelerating number of strange occurrences, ramps up."

The cast also includes Jennifer Jason Leigh as Nicky's mother, as well as Ted Levine, who's best known for playing Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs. You can see more images of the show below.

Haley Z. Boston is on board as showrunner, while the Duffers are executive producers. Boston has previously worked as a writer on shows like Hunters and Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities, and compares her new show to Carrie and Rosemary's Baby.

The Duffers recently said goodbye to one long-running Netflix show, after the Stranger Things season 5 finale aired on New Year's Eve 2025. The final episode proved controversial, coming under fire from fans with some even launching a conspiracy, known as Conformity Gate, that an extra secret episode was on the way to serve as the "real" finale.

Something Very Bad is Going to Happen arrives on Netflix on March 26. In the meantime, fill out your watchlist with our guide to the best shows on Netflix right now.

The Duffer Brothers have revealed that the Stranger Things season 5 finale was "the most difficult writing circumstance" they've ever experienced.

"We were getting hammered constantly by production and by Netflix for episode 8," the duo revealed in the new documentary One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things. "It was the most difficult writing circumstance we’ve ever found ourselves in, not just because of the pressure to make sure the script was good, but because there was never so much noise at the same time."

Matt Duffer also admitted that "we went into production without having a finished script for the finale. That was scary because we wanted to get it right. It was the most important script of the season."

The finale to the long-running show has proved unpopular with fans, with some even going as far as to convince themselves that it was a fake-out and an additional, secret episode was on the way to provide a "real" ending for the series (AKA Conformity Gate).

One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things was released on Netflix on January 12 and goes behind the scenes of the hit show's final season – and it features plenty of other interesting reveals, including the fact that the show's ending was changed to make Eleven's fate more ambiguous.

All episodes of Stranger Things are now streaming on Netflix. For more on the final season, check out our Stranger Things season 5 finale review, or our guide to the Stranger Things season 5 finale ending explained.

Stranger Things might have wrapped up its five-season run, but the franchise is far from over as new projects are now in the works. While the play Stranger Things: The First Shadow continues its run on stage, the Duffer brothers have been teasing a spin-off featuring a brand-new group of characters, as well as a secret project that they're not ready to talk about just yet.

"It's just one step at a time," Matt Duffer told EW when asked about the future of Stranger Things, which also includes the upcoming animated series Stranger Things: Tales From '85. "Right now, everything you said is all we have planned... Well, there's one other thing I can't talk about, so I just sort of lied to you, that is also really cool. But the live-action spinoff is what the main focus is right now."

"I wish I could talk about it more," he continued, "but we have a specific idea or philosophy for how the show and the Stranger Things universe, if you wanna call it that, can continue. It's very different, I would say, than something like Game of Thrones or Star Wars, because we're just not like that."

"And we're very proud of Tales from '85 and the play, but those are mining the last remaining small gaps in the narrative that we told over the course of Stranger Things," added Ross Duffer. "So to be able to move forward, we have to build out a new mythology because otherwise we're just gonna keep finding these little narrow gaps and it's just gonna get narrower and narrower and more forced. So the goal is to break it wide open and do something very new and very different."

Matt Duffer continued by saying it's been "exhilarating" to create "new characters and a new mythology", but for now most details are under wraps. "I can't wait to say more about it when I'm allowed to, but Netflix PR is listening in," he joked.

We know one thing about the spin-off, though. Talking to Variety last week, the showrunners teased one Vecna detail from season 5 will be super important in the upcoming new series – the rock in the briefcase he found in the caves as a child. If you want to know more about that, you can read our Stranger Things season 5 finale ending explained guide.

The complete Stranger Things series is available to watch on Netflix now. For more, check out our guide to the best Netflix shows, and keep up with new TV shows.

If you got the feeling in the Stranger Things finale that Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) was going to have a final heroic hurrah during his final talk with Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), then don’t be alarmed. The Duffer Brothers had recently admitted to playing with the idea until realizing that, in the end, he'd passed the point of no return and had to get the chop. 

While the Duffer Brothers had revealed that they’d taken a lot of inspiration from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in terms of wrapping things up, they came close to pulling from Return of the Jedi, as well. In an interview with Netflix Tudum, Ross Duffer broke down why there was no going back for Henry Creel.

"We did discuss with the writers’ room if he could have a Billy [Dacre Montgomery] moment where he turns against the Mind Flayer [in a] Darth Vader-type situation,” the co-creator confessed. “But the more we talked about it with the writers and with Jamie, he’s gone so far at this point to get here, he has to justify everything he’s done. And the only way to justify that is to go, ‘I chose this, and I believe in this still.’” 

You can undoubtedly feel fragments of what could’ve been a Creel-face turn in the aforementioned scene, which lingers long enough for us actually to believe it might happen. Like a lot of plot threads in the show’s final chapter, though (whether we like it or not), the Duffers are happy to leave things up for interpretation on just whether Henry really was considering a different path. 

“Even though he is shaken by seeing this memory, he’s too far gone at this point to turn against the Mind Flayer. But we wanted to leave it up to the audience whether young Henry chose this or whether the Mind Flayer controlled him from beginning to end,” Ross Duffer explains. “But ultimately, in terms of where Henry goes, it doesn’t matter because he chooses the side of the Mind Flayer at the end of the day.”

Ultimately, no matter how things panned out and where you might stand on some other creative choices in the finale, killing off Henry was the right thing to do. Also, if he hadn't died, well, Joyce (Winona Ryder) would’ve brought that ax for nothing. 

For all our coverage on the final season of Stranger Things (and boy, has there been a lot), head here.

The Duffer Brothers have revealed that Stranger Things season 5 originally included a scene where Winona Ryder's Joyce and David Harbour's Hopper realized they already knew Vecna.

That's because the pair's connection to the show's villain didn't begin with Will's kidnapping in season 1: they went to school with Henry Creel, who would go on to become the Upside Down's big bad.

"Yeah, I’m sure there was," said Ross Duffer when Variety asked the pair whether there was ever a moment of realization in the script. "We had to walk a fine line with the play – we don’t want to frustrate, because so much of our audience is unable to see it. To have them start talking about it would have been confusing in the context of someone who hasn’t seen the play. But I’m sure they did have that conversation."

Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a prequel stage play that's currently on both Broadway and London's West End. Set in 1959, it follows the Creel family, including their telekinetic son Henry, as they move to Hawkins and disturbing things begin to occur in the town after their arrival. Joyce and Hopper also appear in the play as Henry's classmates.

"We really needed the final season to be exactly as it would have been without the play," Matt Duffer added. "The play is Henry’s backstory after he’s infected by the Mind Flayer. But this is how the season was going to play out regardless."

All episodes of Stranger Things season 5 are now streaming on Netflix. For more, check out our Stranger Things season 5 finale review and our Stranger Things season 5 finale ending explained.

The end of the adventure is finally here, as Stranger Things season 5 has brought the long-running Netflix phenomenon to a close after almost 10 years.

The following will contain major spoilers for the finale, so turn back now if you're not up to date!

If you're still reading, then you'll know that Eleven heroically sacrifices herself in the finale – though there's some ambiguity about if she really survived and escaped to Iceland.

In the run up to the finale, though, fans were predicting multiple major deaths for season 5 (Steve Harrington in particular was a source of worry), but, as it turns out, aside from Vecna and Kali, only Eleven (seemingly, anyway) lost her life, and the Duffers have explained why.

"In the writers room, I think we talked through everything," Ross Duffer told Deadline of the possibility of other deaths. "You talk through everything, every possibility, and we knew from early on what we wanted to do with Eleven and her fate, and you talk through the other characters, but I think at the end of the day, for us, the show is an adventure story. It's a coming of age story.

"So for us, it was really talking about those last 30, 40 minutes and where we wanted our characters to be and what we wanted their growth to be and where we wanted to leave them behind," he continued. "Having those discussions is how we landed on [the idea] that we want our heroes, most of them, to make it out of there."

As for Eleven, her sacrifice was necessary for the show. "Eleven represents, in a lot of ways, the magic of childhood," Ross Duffer said in another interview.

"And we knew for our kids to be able to grow up, the magic had [to] leave Hawkins. There was never a version that we had written where it was Eleven down in that basement. It was never going to be that simple and that easy. It was finding a way to come up with an ending where it was not that simple, but also bittersweet, and that there was hope there," he added.

You can stream all of Stranger Things on Netflix now. For more, check out our Stranger Things season 5 finale review or our Stranger Things season 5 finale ending explained.

Stranger Things might be over, but the world created by the Duffer Brothers will continue in a spinoff series now in the works – however, don't expect any returning characters, as the creators are planning "an entirely new mythology".

Fans have theorized for weeks about who could be the focus of the new series, with the final episode providing two possible leads in Holly Wheeler's preteen gang (who are ready to get obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons at the Wheeler's basement), and Jim and Joyce's move to a new town, Montauk.

In a recent interview, though, Ross Duffer debunked all fan theories, and revealed the direction the spinoff will be taking. "I don't know if I want to, but I will say, though, it's not Hopper mentioning Montauk. There's no Montauk spinoff. That was more of a wink to the fans, deep-cut fans that know that the show started as Montauk. It's obviously not Holly and the kids or anything like that. It's something much smaller than that," Ross Duffer told Deadline.

"We've said this before, the spinoff idea we have, it is early days, but it is an entirely new mythology. So, it is connected, and it is going to answer some questions that people have, and there's some lingering questions that weren't answered in the finale that will be answered in the spinoff. But at the end of the day, it's got its own story and its own mythology," he added.

Talking to Variety, Matt Duffer also teased one Vecna detail that will be super important moving forward – the rock in the briefcase he found in the caves as a child, which marked his origins as the show's villain.

"The spinoff is going to delve into that and explain that, and you're going to understand it. But it's a completely different mythology. So it's not a deep exploration of the Mind Flayer or anything like that. It's very fresh and very new, but yes, it will answer some of the loose threads that are remaining," the showrunner said.

"It's very exciting to work with a clean slate: completely new characters, new town, new world, new mythology," he added, confirming that there won't be any "common characters" with the main show.

While you wait for more news on the Stranger Things spinoff, check out our Stranger Things season 5 finale review or our Stranger Things season 5 finale ending explained, and see our lists for the best Netflix shows.

There’s certainly a lot to unpack in Stranger Things’ volume 2. Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) broke up. We finally know what the Upside Down is, and perhaps most importantly, Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) came out to everyone in that massively emotional scene.

It’s a secret that fans have known for some time, and a reveal the Duffers handled with extra care when writing the script for the show’s final season. One detail they made sure to include, though, was how Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard) was processing it all.

During Will’s journey of self-discovery, he developed a lengthy crush on Mike that wasn’t reciprocated. When Will recalls this, we get a clear shot of his friend, listening along with the others. In a recent interview with People, the Duffer Brothers were asked whether this visual cue confirmed that Mike had finally realized the truth. Ross Duffer responded, "That was the intent."

The revelation to Mike and the rest of the group comes from Will recalling a conversation he’d had with Robin (Maya Hawke) and her personal moment of discovery with her first crush.

"Once Will is talking about Tammy and all that and his experience, yeah, it's Mike — and his friends — all realizing and understanding now for the first time, even if Mike has been somewhat oblivious over these years, what his friend is saying,” revealed Ross.

Of course, finding a balance in this highly sensitive and massively impactful moment was important. For Mike, “he's clocking what Will felt over the years.” As for the member of the group who has become one of the most important and powerful this season, “It's about Will understanding who he is and being less fearful, and expressing himself to all his friends and family.” Now all that’s left is for our team to bring Vecna down once and for all. We’ll be able to see how that all plays out on Netflix on New Year’s Eve. Our only concern is that, when it happens, these questions are answered in the Stranger Things finale as well.

It’s nothing new for television shows to have a “will-they-or-won’t-they” moment somewhere in the storyline, but Stranger Things might be the first to have a “did-they-or-didn’t-they” that’s confused audiences as much as this one. In volume 2 of Stranger Things season 5, Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) and Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) were staring a drippy death in the face, and emotions were high. It was here that they deemed it the perfect time to share a few honest moments with eachother. Jonathan then asked Nancy not to marry him, and she agreed.

So now what? Well, social media had a few things to say about the matter, with some even believing their relationship wasn’t over. Thankfully, the show’s creators, The Duffer Brothers, have confirmed that it very much is.

"That's a breakup," Matt Duffer told People, breaking the bad news that seemingly hadn’t quite clicked with some viewers. "They are broken up.” For the writers and minds behind the show, it felt like a natural route to take, particularly with Nancy, who has shown she’s strong enough to go solo for now.

"It's hard to recall when exactly that idea came, but I think us — and the writers — all felt that Nancy needed to end up on her own and be independent and have an opportunity to find herself.” Ross Duffer added that their relationship is more of “a trauma bond” than anything.

It might not be the ending some would like, but there’s still time for some characters to get the happy ending they deserve. The biggest fear, though, is who will make it out alive. With the show’s finale confirmed to run over two hours, that’s an awful lot of time for a body count to pile up in what will be Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and friends’ endgame. We’ll have to see how things play out when the final episode of Stranger Things arrives on Netflix on New Year’s Eve. Get our thoughts on how volume 2 handled things in our review here.

Warning! This article contains major spoilers for Stranger Things season 5. If you're not up to date, and don't want to know anything that happens, turn back now!

To say a lot happened in Stranger Things season 5 Vol. 2 is an understatement. Across the three episodes, Nancy almost destroyed the world, Dustin discovered what the Upside Down actually is, and Max found her way back to her physical body. Elsewhere, Will came out as gay to his entire friends and family in a bid to shake off Vecna's mind control – and according to the Duffer Brothers, the scene took the longest to write of any on the five-season show.

"We were so concerned about getting it right," co-creator Matt Duffer told Variety in a post-episode breakdown. "There were a lot of things that went into it. I mean, we're definitely nervous about how it's going to go over with everyone. But not as nervous as we were handing it over to [Will Byers actor] Noah [Schnapp]. Because ultimately, it needed to resonate and be truthful for him. We really were writing it to and for Noah. He wrote us sobbing after he read it. So it really worked and resonated for him, which was great."

During the chat, Ross Duffer went on to reveal that Will's big coming out scene was originally supposed to happen in season 4, but with so much screentime zapped by Vecna's set-up, they wound up pulling it. "We just realized we didn't have the space to do it properly," he noted. "I'm glad we didn't, because it really gave us time to arc an entire season toward this – toward this one moment. And yes, he is starting to embrace himself, which we see in Vol. 1.

"But what he realizes is that there's still something in there that Vecna exploits – which is that he hasn't told anyone about this. That ultimately led to the coming out scene. Originally, it was just going to be Joyce in the original draft of the outline and the scene was not hitting properly. We realized that Joyce is an important part of this, but he really needed to do it in front of everyone."

With that, episode 7 (officially titled 'The Bridge') sees Will gather Joyce, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Eleven, and more at The Squawk's headquarters to explain why he's always felt a little disconnected from his fellow Dungeons & Dragons-loving pals.

"I haven't told any of you this, because I don't want you to see me differently. But the truth is, I am. I am different. I don't like girls," the Byers boy says through tears. "I mean, I do, just not like you guys do."

He goes on to say that Vecna has been terrorizing him with visions of his coming out and the aftermath, where some of his nearest and dearest "worry" for him while others distance themselves. "I'm alone, and I know none of that has happened and I know Vecna can't see into the future but he can't see into our minds, and he knows things, and it felt so real."

Winona Ryder's Joyce is the first to interrupt him, insisting that all of that "will never ever happen". Will's brother Jonathan echoes her sentiments, as Lucas, Dustin and co chime in, too.

Stranger Things season 5 Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 are streaming now. Don't miss the finale with our guide to the Stranger Things season 5 release schedule. If you need help figuring out exactly what's gone down so far, check out our breakdown of the Stranger Things season 5 Vol. 2 ending explained.

Across Stranger Things' five-season run, less than a handful of named characters have met their maker. Despite all of the life-threatening situations our Hawkins heroes (and villains) find themselves in, we've only said goodbye to Barb, Bob, Eddie, Brenner and well, that's it. There was Chrissy and others too, of course, but as it stands, all of the major players are still alive and kicking.

All that looked set to change going into the Netflix show's ongoing final chapter, with creators Matt and Ross Duffer teasing a tearjerking closer and warning longtime fans that it'd boast "the most violent death of any season". Turns out, though, we may not lose anyone in the two hours and eight minutes that remain...

"It's not Game of Thrones. We're not in Westeros. I love Game of Thrones, but it's just a very different type of show than that," Matt told The Hollywood Reporter, following Vol. 2's release. "There's not going to be a Red Wedding situation. I think some things happen in the finale that are very surprising, but we're not trying to shock or upset anyone. I hope by the time people get to the end of the finale that it just feels like there's something inevitable about what happens, and that it doesn't feel painful but feels satisfying."

Everyone has their favorites, but you've only got to take a quick peek at the Stranger Things hashtag on Instagram or Twitter to learn that most viewers are terrified of losing Joe Keery's Steve Harrington. As for Steve's fate specifically, the Duffers are keeping schtum, though they do understand why fans are so worried about him. "It would be the next logical step," said Matt. "He keeps getting beaten up more and more. The only way we could take it further is death."

Elsewhere in the interview, Matt opened up on how "challenging" it has been to come up with an ending that feels satisfying, admitting that it's impossible to cater to the wide demographic of tuner-inners' hopes because they seem to all be tuning in for their own reasons.

"When you read about people reacting to the show, sometimes I feel like they’re watching very different shows. And in a way, they are, right? They’re fixated on different aspects of the show that are more important to some people than others. It just gets confusing," he noted. "So you can’t really work towards satisfying [everyone], because who are you choosing to satisfy?

"At the end of the day, you do kind of have to shut out all the noise and just listen to your gut and the other writers with whom we've been working with for so long, and hope that what we feel is right resonates with everybody else."

Stranger Things season 5 Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 are streaming now. Don't miss the finale with our guide to the Stranger Things season 5 release schedule. All things Upside Down ain't your bag? Check out our picks of the best shows on Netflix for some watchlist inspiration.

That surprise return of Eleven's 'sister' in Stranger Things season 5 Volume 1 had some fans (me) in tears – and the Duffer brothers say this is only just the beginning of her

"It will be a very different dynamic going into the second volume," Matt explains in the latest issue of SFX magazine. "Kali shifts things a lot for Eleven, and I think it'll be surprising for people to see how she ultimately fits into the story. We're excited about that, because it immediately changes the tone. And obviously, the way things ended with Hopper leaves a lot of tension between them."

Kali was first introduced in what is known as a "bottle" episode, where an episode of a television show with an ensemble cast focuses only on the perspective of one particular cast member. In this case, Eleven went off on her own, met up with Kali and her crew, and learned that there are other people out there just like her who are living normal lives. Kali was also experimented on at Hawkins Lab, and has the number eight tattooed on her wrist. She's just as powerful, if not more powerful, than Eleven.

"Bringing back Kali was something we had always been talking about for a long time, but we had just never quite figured out how to do it," he continues. "We were working on season five, and we were talking about making sure every storyline was finished. It was always nagging at us that the Kali storyline was hanging. So it was important to revisit it and complete her arc."

Director Shawn Levy acknowledged that although the episode received some pretty mixed reviews, it was important to bring Kali back – and fans agree. After Eleven failed to defeat Vecna at the end of season 4, several theories popped up that suggested Eleven would need Kali's help in order to do so.

"It was a risky bet to try a standalone episode with largely new characters in the middle of our second season. It worked for some viewers," Levy said. "It didn't work for others, but I respect the hell out of the Duffers for taking that big swing. But we never forgot about Kali. We never forgot about the plot strands that got established."

Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 is out on Netflix, with volume 2 set to arrive on Christmas Day. See our Stranger Things season release schedule for exact timings. For more, check out our Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 review, and the best Netflix shows to stream right now.

Stranger Things has been littered with some beloved supporting scene-stealers since the beginning, with Derek Turnbow (Jake Conelly) being a fan favorite this year. One cast member who should get some extra special credit, however, is the bespectacled and befuddled teacher, Miss Harris. Herding the kids on the military base and keeping an eye on Holly (Nell Fisher) as she talks to Mr. Whatsit, it’s been revealed that she’s played by Hope Hynes Love, who was actually the Duffer Brothers high school drama teacher.

Taking to Instagram, co-creator of the show, Ross Duffer, revealed the historical connection between one of the show’s newest cast members, writing, “Miss Harris is played by Hope Hynes Love. She was our high school drama teacher.” He went on to praise Love for giving him and his brother the nudge they needed to get to where they are today. “High school was rough for me and my brother. But Hope saw something in us we didn’t see in ourselves — and she helped give us the confidence to not only survive those four years, but to move to LA and chase our dreams.”

Clearly, it paid off, as now they’re responsible for one of Netflix’s biggest shows in the streaming service’s history. “Shoutout to all the teachers out there making a difference,” added Duffer. “And please…let’s prioritize the arts in schools.”

It’s a genuinely heartwarming casting choice from the Duffers, who clearly aren’t forgetting where they came from. Now, admittedly, following the chaos of the cliffhanger ending of volume 1, we don’t quite know where Miss Harris has ended up. Here’s hoping she makes a reappearance before Stranger Things ends on December 31 and we don’t see her on the receiving end of a demogorgon attack. For the full release schedule of Stranger Things' final season to make sure you don’t miss a second, head here.

The pressure is on for Stranger Things not to bow out similarly to how Game of Thrones did. That other television phenomenon that left so many on a disappointing note still stings, and there’s a common concern that Netflix’s almost decade-long hit could go the same way. Even with its issues, though, The Duffer Brothers have regularly referred to the hit HBO series like a rulebook of ice and fire in how they’ve handled the escalating events in every season of their show.

“In terms of television, we always looked to Game of Thrones and what [showrunners] Dan [Weiss] and David [Benioff] did,” Matt Duffer told Variety. “They used the success to scale the show up and evolve it, and it snowballed. We would always take that example to Netflix for reasons why we should scale up the show: It’ll scale up the audience. At least, that was what we told them.”

Of course, television wasn’t the only reference they looked to in telling El’s story over the past five seasons. Creative masterminds like Steven Spielberg, Stephen King, and other 80s legends were frequently looked to, along with era icons, making appearances. One director that the Duffers admired, however, was a filmmaker who experienced a similarly rocky start before their breakout projects, just like them.

“M. Night Shyamalan was a big influence. Like us, he had a movie that was a total dud, and then he did The Sixth Sense, which became this massive phenomenon,” explained Matt Duffer, referring to the 2015 film Hidden. “Yes, he continued to do some version of the twist thing, but I thought he took a lot of pretty exciting risks. He kept making original films. I don’t know if I was consciously thinking about it after Stranger Things, but he’s been such a big part of our life that I’m sure it was in there.”

We’ll see how things are handled when volume 1 of Stranger Things season 5 arrives on Netflix on November 26. For a refresher on the show’s big bad, check out our guide on everything you need to know about Vecna.

Stranger Things creators The Duffer Brothers promise an epic ending to Netflix smash when the fifth season begins on November 26 – with no stone left unturned for the residents of Hawkins and the moody madness of the Upside Down.

"It was important for us to resolve all storylines and tie up any loose ends," confirms Matt Duffer in an exclusive interview with GamesRadar+. "Typically, when we're working on a season, we don't find the time to do everything and we're able to kick the can down the road. That was not an option this time. We spent a long time with our writers – especially early on – making sure we got everything we wanted into the season. We wrote out everything, 'These are the things we have to explain; this is where we need the characters to get.' Hopefully, we accomplish that."

The twin creators of the super-successful show describe the final season as "unexpected" and "massive", while Gaten Matarazzo (who plays Dustin Henderson) doubles down on its grand scale. "It's a huge season," the actor enthusiastically explains. "I think they [the Duffers] knew it was going to be after they finished up season four. They leave off at a pretty wild place, comparatively to the prior three seasons. We hit the ground running in a really cool space in season five, which was fun to jump into. It was fun to work on. And, yeah, I'm excited to see how big it really feels. It feels like eight feature films."

"We’re very proud of season five," admits Matt Duffer, speaking to GamesRadar+ at Netflix's HQ in Los Angeles. "There are a handful of sequences I'm particularly excited for fans to see. We actually just watched the finale with finished sound yesterday. Maybe of all the episodes, that's the one I'm most excited for them to experience."

"And then episode four," chimes in Ross Duffer. "We have two finales, in a way: four and eight. Those are the two big episodes. I think [they are] the ones we're most proud of."

Stranger Things executive producer and director Shawn Levy agrees that the finale episode is going to be hard to beat. When quizzed about what he's most excited for audiences to see in season five, he reveals: "It's the emotional gut punch of this season – and particularly in that last episode. There's a reason it's going into theatres. There's a reason it deserves that. I think Matt and Ross made a masterpiece with the finale episode."

Flipping the script

While the showrunners, executive producers and cast remain tight-lipped on storylines, fans flipped when the first five minutes of the final season were unveiled online last week. The jaw-dropping reveal of Vecna engaging with a de-aged Will Byers in the Upside Down's version of Castle Byers – on 12 November 1983, no less – confirmed that the antagonist had a long-standing plan for the youngster. "At long last, we can begin," growls Vecna in the scene.

"When we were breaking the season, we realised so much of the story was about Will and his connection to the Upside Down and the evil that's been happening in Hawkins," explains Ross Duffer, speaking about the captivating start to the season. "That’s something we dealt with a lot in season two. We've been teasing it throughout season three and four, but we really wanted to get into that [in season five]."

What exactly does this entail? "We wanted to get into the heart of the story, which is Will being taken," continues Ross. "Why was he taken? What was the reason behind that? And what happened in the Upside Down? Once we started talking about that, we realised we wanted to go back and show what happened in the Upside Down."

The technological requirements of the opening scenes, which involve a de-aged Noah Schnapp, were a welcome challenge for the Duffers. "Obviously, it was very challenging technologically because Noah has grown up quite a bit," chuckles Ross. "It was a fun challenge to figure that out. That sequence probably took about a year to make, for WETA to make Will young again."

A young actor worked in front of the cameras for the scenes, but Noah Schnapp was also on set to lend a helping hand. "I was with the kid, helping him understand the physicality of how I curl up when I shake and breathe," reveals Schnapp. "It was fun to revisit that and reflect on, 'Oh, I was so little when I first started this.'"

Out of time

As for Vecna in season five, actor Jamie Campbell Bower promises more horrifying antics from the devilish antagonist. "We’ve all seen the trailer," he tells us. "There's definitely been some aesthetic changes to Vecna. He hasn't been relaxing. He's definitely out for blood now. There’s more rage, more resentment and more pain for a lot of our characters. That's all I can give over at this point in time."

Was it always the plan for Vecna and Will to open the final season of Stranger Things? "The brothers always knew," confides Levy. "They had a very clear vision for opening season five, where it all began with Will in the Upside Down. They had a very clear idea of where they wanted it all to end as well. Those bookends were pillars of this fifth season – and now that you've seen the opening, I can just tell you, having seen the closing, it is as beautiful a finale to any series I've ever seen."

With a November 26 release date for Volume One of season five, fans don't have too long to wait for more Hawkins revelations. "I think everyone's so good this year," Finn Wolfhard tells GamesRadar+. "I think everyone cared so much on set and I'm excited to see people's reactions to us being back together and being able to have scenes together again."

"I'm excited for the fans to see what we've been working on for the past year, or two years with editing," adds Caleb McLaughlin. "It’s been a long journey. I’m really proud of the work that everyone's put in."

Stranger Things season 5 Volume One (episodes 1-4) releases on 26 November. Volume Two (episodes 5-7) arrives on 25 December and the finale lands on Netflix and in theaters on December 31, 2025. For more, check out our picks for the best shows on Netflix and best movies on Netflix.

Will Byers and Eleven are arguably the two most important kids in Stranger Things thanks to their ties to the Upside Down and the villainous Vecna. But co-creator Matt Duffer now tells SFX that another character will step up to the plate in Stranger Things season 5: Holly Wheeler, the younger sister of Mike and Nancy Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard and Natalia Dyer, respectively).

Played by twins Anniston and Tinsley Price, Holly Wheeler has done a lot of growing up over the course of the show's four seasons, but according to Matt Duffer, in an interview alongside his brother and co-creator Ross Duffer, it's Holly's youth that makes her the right supporting character to bump up to the main cast.

"Once you see the full season, you'll have a better understanding of why it was so important to add her to the cast," Duffer explains. "One of the reasons was, we just wanted to recapture some of the feeling of season one, and some of that you can't recapture unless you have kids, because our kids are not kids any more. They're not close to being kids any more. So it was really fun to add Holly and her classmates into the show, because it allowed us to recapture some of that feeling."

Duffer goes on to elaborate that they started making changes to their original outline as far back as season 2, building the show's mythos and planning out where certain characters would end up by the end of the show. Even the upcoming final season underwent some adjustments during development.

"[Season 2] was really when we saw that the show was a success and that it would probably go on for a few seasons. That's when we started to really break down the mythology and start to roughly plan it out," he says. "But even then, things change as you make discoveries each season. So a lot of big ideas were there, but even something like Holly [Wheeler] being a centrepiece of this season, that was a discovery as we were breaking season five. So you always want to allow room for things to change and evolve and grow."

Stranger Things season 5 will be released in three parts: Part 1: November 26, 2025; Part 2: Christmas; Finale: New Year's Day. For more, check out our picks for the best shows on Netflix and best movies on Netflix.

It's already been confirmed that Stranger Things season 5 will open on a season 1 flashback of Noah Schnapp's Will Byers. But that's not the only reason the first few episodes will feel "very different" to previous chapters, according to the Duffer Brothers.

"Normally, at the end of the previous season, they've defeated whatever evil, and so we start with them going about their normal lives when something comes in, and that sets off our mystery," Ross Duffer revealed in the latest issue of SFX magazine. "But in this case, they lost at the end of season 4, and so when we find them, they're training and preparing and searching for Vecna. They're active from the beginning, so it allows things to get off to a much quicker start than ever before.”

Essentially, Stranger Things 5 will be giving Avengers: Endgame early doors, as Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and the rest of the gang regroup and pick themselves up after their failed face-off with Thanos-style big bad Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower). If you cast your minds back to the Stranger Things season 4 ending in May 2022, you'll remember that Eddie Munson died, Max wound up blinded and comatose, and the mutated Henry Creel unleashed the Upside Down on Hawkins...

"Scarred by the opening of the Rifts, our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished – his whereabouts and plans unknown, As the anniversary of Will's disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread," reads the official season 5 synopsis. "The final battle is looming – and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they've faced before. To end this nightmare, they'll need everyone – the full party – standing together, one last time."

"I think it's a great opening, how you get right to the action," Lucas Sinclair actor Caleb McLaughlin added. "For the viewers, it'll be refreshing and intense. A lot of people, everyone who's been waiting for the new season, they're going to really, really enjoy it."

Stranger Things season 5 premieres on November 26, with Volume 2 arriving on Christmas Day and the finale dropping on December 31. For more, check out our picks of the best Netflix shows for some viewing inspiration.

We've already been told by Stranger Things showrunners Matt and Ross Duffer to brace ourselves for a tear-jerking fifth season, as Will, Eleven and co. enter into a life-threatening face-off against big bad Vecna. This is Stranger Things, mind you, so we can expect some fun and levity amid all that world-saving tension.

The actors had a pretty challenging time filming any lighter scenes towards the end of the chapter's near 12-month shoot, though, the Duffer Brothers have recalled. Why? Well, they knew it was the last time they'd all be together running around Hawkins and avoiding demogorgons...

"It was hard to even get through take after take," Ross Duffer explained to Variety, remembering how they had to tell the stars to cheer up a little while the cameras were rolling. "You're just going, 'They're feeling every moment of this.' Occasionally, they were actually too emotional in moments when it was a little too early in the scene. We're like, 'You're not supposed to be upset!'"

"I think it changed me as an actor forever," added Maya Hawke, who plays Robin Buckley. "I am a different actor today, and I think a better actor, because of that opportunity to do a scene that was on such a high-stakes emotional day of my life that was also a high stakes emotional scene. It was just this extraordinary gift. But I did spend 12 hours in a rolling cycle of weeping."

"Everybody was feeling the fatigue of shooting for a year," said Steve Harrington's Joe Keery. "Everyone was looking forward to being done, but then once you get to the finish line, you look back and think, 'Oh, man, can I just have one more?'"

Six weeks out from the first four episodes of Stranger Things 5 dropping on Netflix, and we still don't know all that much about the plot of the upcoming installment.

The official synopsis reads: "Scarred by the opening of the Rifts, our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished – his whereabouts and plans unknown, As the anniversary of Will's disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming – and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they've faced before. To end this nightmare, they'll need everyone – the full party – standing together, one last time."

It wasn't just the actors who found filming those final moments a difficult experience, either. "I'm never going to spend 10 years on something again, I don't think, where you become this much of a family with the people who are working on it," Matt Duffer chimed in. "It was really hard. Each day was saying goodbye. Each of those actors only had to say goodbye once. Ross and I had to do it four different times. Every time I'm like, 'I'm not going to break!' And I broke every time."

Volume 1 of Stranger Things season 5 lands on November 26, with Volume 2 arriving on December 25 and Volume 3 releasing on December 31. For more, check out our picks of the best Netflix shows for some viewing inspiration.

Matt and Ross Duffer, the brothers behind the smash-hit Netflix series Stranger Things, are closing in on the show's finale. And while they're excited to be able to tell their full planned story, they have some regrets about the road to get there, telling Variety that they wish they had done more stories for the last decade.

"Part of me regrets not having been able to tell more different stories over the course of 10 years," Matt Duffer states. "Sometimes I wonder about that - because it ate up our entire 30s. I wish we had gotten it done a little faster, but it is what it is."

"To go this long was our choice. We could have jumped ship and done movies, and we elected not to - and I'm glad we didn't," he continues. "We finished telling this story, and luckily we weren't too old when we started it, so we're OK. I mean, Ridley Scott didn't start making movies until he was in his 40s. Netflix has been surprisingly patient. I feel that patience wearing thin a little bit, with the show coming to an end. But they're understanding."

At the same time, Ross Duffer feels grateful to have had the opportunity to finish the Stranger Things story, given the difficulty filmmakers can currently face in continuing their series.

"When we started, it was very early Netflix," he explains. "And I don't know how many more opportunities there are going to be to tell stories of this length on that size canvas. So whenever I have the regrets that Matt was saying, I'm excited that we were able to take advantage of this very specific period of time in the industry."

Stranger Things season 5, Volume 1, arrives this November 26, with volumes 2 and 3 following soon after on December 25 and December 31. Until then, fill out your watchlist with our guide to the best shows on Netflix.

With so few concrete details about Stranger Things season 5 out there, it's no surprise that fans have resorted to lapping up rumors. Some of the biggest rumors that have been circulating concern the new batch of episodes' runtimes, which co-creator Matt Duffer has debunked... again.

"Every runtime I've seen posted online is inaccurate," he recently told Variety, before going on to confirm that some chapters are as lengthy as those in season 4. “Episode 4 and episode 8 are like movies." On social media, it had been highly speculated that each episode would be at least two hours long, and that the finale would clock in at a lengthy three hours.

This isn't the first time the Duffer Brothers have shot down the rumors. Back in July, Ross took to his Instagram Story to share the runtimes alongside the caption: "Lol not even close to accurate."

Later, as part of the publication's Entertainment and Technology Summit in Los Angeles, Ross offered up a cryptic tease of how the upcoming installment is going to shake up the Netflix show's typical format: "This isn't going about normal life, and then something supernatural happens to them, which is what we usually do."

"Scarred by the opening of the Rifts, our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished – his whereabouts and plans unknown," reads season 5's synopsis, with its official trailer revealing that Eleven has been forced back into hiding thanks to the government's intensified hunt to track her down. "As the anniversary of Will's disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming – and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they've faced before. To end this nightmare, they'll need everyone – the full party – standing together, one last time."

Just a few days ago, Netflix unveiled a behind-the-scenes featurette in which the Duffer Brothers suggest that it's the "biggest season we've ever had".

"It's more of an adventure and more of a mission, which I really like," Millie Bobby Brown adds in the clip. "Everybody is really put into the thick of it. No one is sitting back on a Walkie Talkie. Everyone is full throttle going for it."

Stranger Things is streaming now on Netflix. While we wait for Stranger Things season 5 to premiere on November 26, check out our picks of the best Netflix shows for some viewing inspiration.

After over 10 years at Netflix, Stranger Things creators Ross and Matt Duffer might be ditching the streamer – and our Hawkins-loving selves can't help but worry what that means for Tales from '85 and the show's spin-offs.

According to Deadline, the duo are eyeing a deal over at Paramount Plus that would include working on both TV shows and "features with a big theatrical component." Despite the creation of Upside Down Pictures, described as a film and television production company, over at Netflix in July 2022, the twosome has yet to develop any movies, which may make the rival collaboration more exciting.

Another motivation to jump ship could be loyalty to Paramount's Chair of Direct-to-Consumer Cindy Holland, who championed Stranger Things back when she was Netflix's Head of English-language original series. "Ted Sarandos, Cindy Holland, Brian Wright and Matt Thunell took a huge chance on us and our show — and forever changed our lives," the Duffers said back in 2019.

While they've not got plans for a flick under Upside Down Pictures, the Duffer Brothers currently have Tales from '85, an animated Stranger Things series, as well as another live-action spin-off in the works – and adaptations of hit anime Death Note and Peter Straub and Stephen King's novel The Talisman, too.

Little is known about Tales from '85 aside from its title so far, but it can't be a coincidence that it's set during the same year Indiana's Starcourt Mall was built... and burned down following Eleven and co's explosive battle with the Mind Flayer.

"We've always dreamed of an animated Stranger Things in the vein of the Saturday morning cartoons that we grew up loving, and to see this dream realized has been absolutely thrilling," Matt and Ross Duffer, who are credited as producers, previously told Tudum. "We couldn't be more blown away by what [showrunner] Eric Robles and his team have come up with – the scripts and artwork are incredible, and we can't wait to share more with you! The adventure continues…"

Season 4 of Stranger Things was set in March 1986, while the next batch of episodes reportedly takes place in the fall of 1987, so the spin-off is definitely going to plug some gaps from those earlier years.

Stranger Things is streaming now on Netflix. While we wait for Stranger Things season 5 to premiere on November 26, check out our picks of the best Netflix shows for some viewing inspiration.

We still don't have a confirmed release date for the final season of Stranger Things, but whenever it comes, Finn Wolfhard believes it will home the perfect ending for his character, Mike Wheeler, who has been a hero of Hawkins since the beginning.

Speaking to People about the final season of Netflix's beloved show, the star who joined the cast at 13 and is now leaving it behind at 22 has mixed feelings about how things have played out. "I was so happy with his ending, and I don't know, I was satisfied, but I was also very confused and sad, but also very happy," explained Wolfhard. "I felt like I was in a dream or something. None of it felt real. I don't know, it felt perfect."

The closing section of the beloved sci-fi series carries significant weight with the demand to tie up loose ends. Last season, we saw our brave group of friends contend with Vecna, only to leave one of them—Sadie Sink's Max—hospitalized with little hope of recovery. Hopefully, she'll return fighting fit alongside Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and the rest of Hawkins' heroes for the final battle, for which the Duffer Brothers revealed they have filmed 650 hours of footage.

Now that the dust had settled for Wolfhard, it still took a while to accept that he'd never return to the Upside Down after this. "It didn't really start to go into focus until the next day. It was like an emotional hangover," he revealed. "But it ended really well, and I just have such positive things to say about everyone."

We can see how things all play out and which classic 80s song will burrow into our brains this time when Stranger Things 5 arrives later this year. While you wait, why not check out the 25 best Netflix shows to watch this April.

Millie Bobby Brown has been playing psychic teenager Eleven since 2016, but, this year, it all comes to an end with Stranger Things season 5.

Not much is known about the new – and final – season of Netflix's hit show just yet, but, when we met with Brown over Zoom to talk about her new film The Electric State, we asked how she feels about saying goodbye to something that's been part of her life for so long.

"It was really emotional," Brown tells us. "I will forever be attached to that show, and I'm proud of it. It's a lot of hard work that everyone's put into it. And I'll always be grateful for the Duffer Brothers for hiring me, and for Netflix for trusting me with such an amazing character. It's an amazing season. I can't wait for everyone to see it. I hate gatekeeping all the information, so I'm really excited for everyone to enjoy it."

Stranger Things season 5 is expected later this year. In the meantime, you'll soon be able to watch Brown as Michelle in The Electric State, which is directed by the Russo brothers. Michelle is a young woman on a challenging quest to find her brother, travelling through an alternate, dystopian version of our world in the aftermath of a robot uprising. Chris Pratt co-stars as her unlikely ally Keats.

The Electric State arrives on Netflix this March 14. You can fill out your watchlist with our guide to the best Netflix shows and the best Netflix movies to watch now.

New behind-the-scenes footage for Stranger Things season 5 has been unveiled behind closed doors, taking viewers on the set of the final chapter of the hit Netflix show.

At the 2025 Next on Netflix event which was attended by GamesRadar+, audiences were treated to a very short behind-the-scenes montage which gave us a glimpse at what to expect from the upcoming season.

Although brief, the footage was action packed with highlights including the return of the villainous Vecna, a shot of the stained glass window from the Creel family home, and Will screaming seemingly in the Upside Down. Over the teaser, Millie Bobby Brown's Eleven provided a voiceover saying, "they don't get to write the ending, but we do". Naturally, we got goosebumps.

Whilst the behind-the-scenes teaser didn't reveal much, creators the Duffer Brothers did come on stage to confirm a few exciting details. They announced to the crowd that they filmed a whopping over 650 hours of footage for the final season, with the shoot taking place over an entire year.

That's quite the achievement of course, even if we have already had countless teases that the final season would feel like eight movies. As Ross Duffer told last night's audience: "We spent a full year filming this season. By the end, we'd captured over 650 hours of footage. So, needless to say, this is our biggest and most ambitious season yet. It's like eight blockbuster movies. It's pretty insane."

Continuing on from his brother, Matt Duffer went on to state that Stranger Things season 5 is their most "personal" one yet, making it even more emotional to film, the result being plenty of tears.

He shared: "At the same time, we think it's our most personal story. It was super intense and emotional to film – for us and for our actors. We've been making this show together for almost 10 years. There was a lot of crying. There was so much crying. The show means so much to all of us, and everyone put their hearts and souls into it. And we hope – and believe – that passion will translate to the screen."

Lastly, the Duffers confirmed that although season 5 will be the end of these characters' stories, they aren't saying goodbye to the world of Stanger Things anytime soon, teasing that several spin-off tales could be arriving with some already in the works.

Although they wanted to hold their cards close to their chests regarding details, Matt revealed: "But while this might be the end of the story for Mike, Hopper, Dustin, Lucas, Eleven, and the others, it's not goodbye for Stranger Things. There are more Stranger Things stories to tell and in the works.

"It's a bit early at this point to talk about them, but we're deeply involved in every one – it's very important to us that anything with the Stranger Things name on it is of the highest quality and not repetitive – that it has a reason to exist and always blazes its own path. And also, it needs to basically just be... awesome. Or we need to think it's awesome. And there are a lot of what we think are awesome things in the pipeline."

Now, this isn't the first time that the Duffer Brothers have hinted at spin-offs and in fact, an animated series was announced last year. But what the future holds exactly, only time will tell. For now, we await the reveal of the release date for season 5 which is still yet to be confirmed.

Stranger Things season 5 will be released this year. In the meantime, check out our guide to the best Netflix shows and best Netflix movies to fill out your watchlist.

Good news, Stranger Things fans. The retro sci-fi show may be coming to an end with season 5, but the show’s creators have something else up their sleeve as Netflix announces an upcoming horror series with The Duffer Brothers attached. 

Matt and Ross Duffer will serve as executive producers on an upcoming Netflix horror series titled Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen. The streamer announced the news via a statement, confirming that the show’s creator and writer Haley Z. Boston, best known for penning other Netflix horror shows such as Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, is also attached as executive producer and showrunner. 

"We were knocked flat when we first read Haley’s script," said The Duffer Brothers. "She is a major new talent with a singular voice — her writing is twisted, terrifying, funny, and just… very Haley. We feel so lucky to be producing her first show, and we can’t wait to share her vision with the rest of the world."

Not much has been revealed about the show other than its logline which reads: "Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen is an atmospheric horror series set at a wedding, following a bride and groom in the week leading up to their ill-fated nuptials. That’s not a spoiler — just read the title." This sounds worlds away from the happenings of teen adventure Stranger Things, but if Boston’s previous shows like the weird and witchy Netflix original Brand New Cherry Flavor is anything to go by, we’re in for a wild ride with Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen. 

As for the Duffer Brothers, the upcoming spooky series is just another project on their already stacked plate as in addition to wrapping up Stranger Things season 5, the duo has supernatural mystery series The Boroughs in the works as well as a live-action Death Note series which notably hasn't received an update in a while. 

An official cast list, synopsis, and release date are yet to be revealed for Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen. For more, check out the best Netflix shows to stream now, or keep up to date with upcoming TV shows.

Weeks after Stranger Things season 4 hit Netflix, VFX shots from the show are still being replaced, editor Dean Zimmerman has revealed at a Microsoft Production Summit (H/T Variety). 

"There are some shots that were fine, you wouldn't notice the issues, but the Duffer Brothers, just for archive purposes, want to replace them. So we're still uploading shots," Zimmerman explained. "It's all about the details for them."

The editor said during the panel that production on the show overran by eight weeks, and the VFX editors faced a big challenge in getting their work finished before release – which all came down to just how many visual-effects are in the show. He added that Netflix even switched some VFX editors from other shows to Stranger Things.

The Duffer Brothers have been open before about how they've "George Lucas'd" the show, referring to the Star Wars creators' tendency to go back and rework his films long after they've been released. "We have George Lucas'd things also that people don't know about," Matt Duffer has said. 

One thing that hasn't been changed, though, is a scene in season 1 that sees Jonathan Byers spying on Nancy. A rumor that the scene originally saw Jonathan take a picture of her undressing, and that the episode has been re-edited to remove the moment, has been debunked by the Stranger Things writer's room. 

You can catch up on all four seasons of Stranger Things on Netflix now. While you wait for Stranger Things season 5, see our guide to the best Netflix shows to fill out your watchlist. 

**Warning: This article contains major spoilers from Stranger Things season 4, Volume 2**

Max Mayfield is in serious danger heading into Stranger Things season 5. After barely surviving her onslaught against Vecna in the Stranger Things season 4, volume 2 ending, she was left fighting for her life in a coma.  

However, the show creators have suggested her original ending was even darker. The Duffer Brothers planned for her to join Eddie Munson as the second major death in the season 4 finale.

"It was discussed as a possibility," Ross Duffer revealed about Max’s death during the Stranger Things After Show. "For a while, that is what was going to happen. But we wanted to end it with a little more of a question at the end of the season. It’s still really dark, and if Max is going to be OK, we just don’t really know. We wanted to leave it up in the air moving forward into season 5."

At the end of season 4, Max is left in a coma, but doctors are not sure she’ll live. And when Eleven tries to enter her mind to bring her back, it’s completely blank. Matt Duffer explained this is all relevant for the show’s final season. He added: "I can’t really get into details but the reason she’s in a coma is important to season 5. That is going to have a major effect on 5."

There are plenty of fan theories turning around about what Max’s fate could be. One bleak prediction suggests she could be alive but trapped inside Vecna’s mind. We’ll have to wait until season 5 to find out what’s in store for Max, which the Duffer bros have said they’ll start writing soon.

In the meantime, we’ve been breaking down Stranger Things season 4 with our round-up of Easter Eggs and movie references alongside our list of all the Volume 2 deaths. For what to watch next, check out our guide to the best Netflix shows.

Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer have revealed that their upcoming spin-off show will be very different from the original series – and don't expect Eleven, Steve, or Dustin to return, either. 

"I’ve read these rumors that there’s gonna be an Eleven spin-off, that there’s gonna be a Steve and Dustin spin-off or that it’s another number," the Duffer Brothers recently said on the Happy Sad Confused podcast (via Variety). "That’s not interesting to me because we’ve done all that. We’ve spent I don’t know how many hours exploring all of that. So it’s very different."

They added that the spin-off will be "1000% different" from the original series, with the main link being its "storytelling sensibility" rather than characters, and they're "really jazzed" about their idea – which apparently not even Netflix knows yet.

As for the original show, Stranger Things season 5 will be the show's last season, with the adventures of Eleven, Mike, Will, and the rest of the gang set to wrap up in season 5. The Duffer brothers have previously revealed that there are plans to start writing later this summer, so we won't be returning to Hawkins for a while yet. 

Stranger Things season 4 volume 2 is streaming on Netflix now. If you're already up to date with the series, be sure to check out our guide to the Stranger Things season 4, Volume 2 ending. We also have a deep dive on everyone who dies in Stranger Things season 4, Volume 2.

*Warning: This article contains spoilers for Stranger Things 4, Volume 2*

Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer have a hard time letting go of their characters. Not only have they admitted it themselves, but lead actor Millie Bobby Brown has called them out for only killing off a handful since the Netflix show began in 2016. 

Stranger Things season 4, Volume 2 saw a couple of villains and a hero meet their demise, however, and now the duo has confirmed that one character in particular is "definitively" dead: Matthew Modine's villainous Dr. Martin Brenner. 

"For real this time. He's toast," the pair joked while appearing on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast, referencing how Brenner was believed to have wiped out by a Demogorgon way back in season 1, only to resurface in the most recent installment. (Modine did show up in season 2, but the scenes in question were flashbacks).

The scientist, who used to carry out tests on Eleven and the other superpowered children at Hawkins National Lab, was fatally shot by Lieutenant Colonel Sullivan's troops in the eighth episode of season 4, titled 'Papa', as he tried to carry a sedated Eleven away from the compromised NINA Project compound. While he was the one that drugged her before placing a shock collar around her neck, he tells Eleven as he bleeds out that he's always seen her as is family. A master manipulator with murky morals until the very end, eh, Martin?

Elsewhere in the new interview, the Duffers stated that everyone's favorite D&D-loving metalhead Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) is "sadly" gone, too – having been attacked be a bunch of Demobats. But that's fortunately not the case for Sadie Sink's Max Mayfield, who just about escaped with her life after using herself as bait for big bad Vecna in episode 9.

"She's brain dead, but yeah, she's alive. She's blind and all of her bones are broken, but yeah, she's doing great, Josh," they teased. "She's seen better days."

If you're on the hunt for more Hawkins-related content, check out our breakdown of the Stranger Things season 4, Volume 2 ending and how it all sets up Stranger Things season 5, or our spoiler-heavy list of who dies in Stranger Things season 4, Volume 2.  If you're not keen to dwell on the darker stuff, though, we've rounded up all of the fun Stranger Things season 4, Volume 2 Easter eggs here.

Stranger Things season 4 was a long time coming, and Volume 2 tested our patience even further by making us wait an extra five weeks for the last couple of episodes. Turns out, though, the Duffer brothers really needed that extra production time.

On June 30, the day before the two-parter landed on Netflix, Collider's Steven Weintraub took to Twitter to reveal that Matt and Ross Duffer had "finished a bunch of VFX shots" on the 140-minute finale that very morning. He also suggested that it'd be advisable for those in the US not to hit play at midnight, and instead get some sleep before tuning in bright and early.

"If you watch the episode at 2am tonight you might not see the final shots," he wrote on the social media platform, adding in a follow-up tweet: "I believe they said 20 VFX shots. Should have said that. Which means you can watch [the] episode and probably not notice what wasn't 100% done. I don't want to make it sound like the episode wasn't 99% done."

The Duffer Brothers previously noted that the final episode of Stranger Things season 4, Volume 2 featured more visual effects shots than the whole of season 3, which explains why it wasn't ready until late June despite the cast wrapping filming way back in September 2021.

In episodes 8 and 9, which are titled 'Papa' and 'The Piggyback' respectively, our heroes wage war on Vecna, the powerful being that's been killing kids and opening gates up and down Hawkins. Each group of characters – based in Indiana, in Russia, and in Nevada – unknowingly team up to take down the Upside Down-dwelling big bad, and it proves to be one of their most challenging battles yet.

For more on Stranger Things, check out our explainer on the Stranger Things season 4, Volume 2 ending. Only if you've seen it or don't mind knowing details ahead of time, mind: it's full to the brim with spoilers.

If you have binge-watched the whole chapter and are stuck on what to watch next, check out the best Netflix shows and the best Netflix movies available right now.

*This article contains mild spoilers for Stranger Things season 4, Volume 1*

After a nasty run-in with some Demobats in Stranger Things season 4, part 1, fans have voiced concern over the fate of Joe Keery's Steve Harrington in the run-up to Volume 2. Now, the Duffer Brothers have weighed in on the worries.

When asked about the speculation by TVLine, the filmmaker siblings admitted that it was not necessarily anything new when it comes to the fan favorite character, and revealed that it's almost become a bit of a tradition to put Steve through the wringer in each chapter.

"Everybody's always worried about Steve. I love it," Matt Duffer told the publication. "We always have to beat Steve up somehow, so certainly the Demobats have done that job pretty well already this season." 

"It feels wrong to say 'excited,' but I'm excited that people are concerned," Ross added. "And they should be concerned going into the final two episodes [of season 4] – for everybody."

Steve was left bloodied by the bats in season 4, episode 6, after he got sucked into the Upside Down via a watergate. Thankfully, Nancy (Natalia Dyer), Robin (Maya Hawke), and Eddie (Joseph Quinn) managed to whack the creatures off of him before they could do too much damage. But as Robin ominously points out later on, we don't know if the beasts' bites have any lasting effects, which has caused certain viewers' to panic.

When asked what we can expect from the last two episodes of season 4 and beyond, executive producer and director Shawn Levy previously teased: "There's no chance in hell that we are going to give our passionate, loyal fans anything less than a deeply satisfying close in the final chapter.

"Having seen both those finale episodes, they are as emotional as they are cinematic," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "Holy shit, they are definitely a treat for the eyes, but they punch you right in the heart. So, that's what I'll say about that."

Stranger Things season 5 will likely see the story jump forward in time, creators Matt and Ross Duffer have revealed. 

With the first volume of season 4 available to stream, and Volume 2 set to land on July 1, attention has already turned to the Netflix show's fifth and final chapter. In a new interview with TVLine, Matt said that they have yet to carve out a start for shooting, but fans needn't worry as "a lot of it is pretty well mapped out."

"We learn a lot every time we make a [season]," he continued, noting that certain actors' contributions to the fourth installment will probably lead to them tweaking what happens in season 5. "We've learned a lot just working with all of our new actors and the ones that we've worked with for a long time over this year [making season 4], so I'm sure it'll change a little bit from that outline."

Ross, Matt's brother, indirectly addressed the young actors' growth spurts, too, which stirred up quite the chatter when the first images from season 4 were released back in March. He explained: "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," he continued. "Believe it or not, we're still working on season 4. We’re trying to finish the final two episodes, they’re so massive."

*Warning: Major spoilers below for the Stranger Things season 4, part 1 ending. Look away now if you've yet to finish episode 7*

Said final two episodes are 'Papa' and 'The Piggyback', the latter of which will be a whopping 2 hours and 19 minutes long. In the finale of Volume 1, we saw Eleven overcome Vecna (also known as a Henry Creel/One) in the past and regain her powers in the present, Joyce and Murray rescue Hopper, and Dustin, Steve, Nancy, and the gang discover a way to travel between our world and the Upside Down. With Vecna still wreaking havoc in Hawkins, will they be able to come together and beat him once and for all? 

Check out our Stranger Things season 4 release schedule for more info on season 4's Volume 2. If you've already binge-watched all seven episodes of Volume 1, why not check out our list of the best Netflix shows for some viewing inspiration.

Stranger Things will continue beyond season 4, creators Matt and Ross Duffer have confirmed in a new interview.

“Season four won't be the end,” Ross Duffer told The Hollywood Reporter, while also hinting that the show’s endgame has been mapped out in full.

“We know what the end is, and we know when it is. [The pandemic] has given us time to look ahead, figure out what is best for the show. Starting to fill that out gave us a better idea of how long we need to tell that story.”

Stranger Things season 4 (which still doesn’t have an official release date) was unlikely to ever be the end of the hit sci-fi series, yet news of season 5 – and potentially beyond – will have fans who have been burned by Netflix’s trigger-happy cancellations of The OA as well as Tuca and Bertie in recent years breathing a little easier.

So, now the future is set in stone, when can we expect season 4? Not great news on that front, I’m afraid, with Ross Duffer saying, “Everyone's excited to get back to work, but the priority is the safety of the cast and crew, and that will dictate when we go back,” though Matt Duffer added “For the first time, we have all the scripts written.”

Stranger things (ahem) have happened, but Stranger Things season 4 isn’t coming this year. For now, grab some Eggos and watch the pre-season 4 Stranger Things table read with all of the returning cast members.

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The Stranger Things 3 ending was a rough ride for fans of Hopper, Eleven, and plenty of the other residents in Hawkins, Indiana. But there’s hope. There’s always hope. The Stranger Things 3 post-credits scene hinted as much – and now show co-creators the Duffer Brothers have confirmed it’s all been done to set up an as-yet-unconfirmed Stranger Things season 4.

First, a lightning-quick cheat sheet for those who either haven’t seen the Stranger Things 3 ending (your funeral), or have been clouded by grief: Hopper supposedly dies at the end of the season, and Eleven loses her powers. However, the ex-Chief’s body is never found, and a post-credits stinger reveals that a secretive Russian base is holding a Demogorgon captive alongside an “American.”

Could it be Hopper? The Duffers aren’t saying, but told EW: “Assuming there’s a season 4, obviously the question of who that American is in that cell and then also what they’re doing with the Demogorgon, that is a tease… we try to tee up some season 4.”

It appears that the looming spectre of Stranger Things season 4 is also at the forefront of the Duffers’ mind when it comes to some of the other tragic moments at the tail-end of the season. 

For one thing, Eleven no longer has powers. As Ross Duffer explained, that ups the horror ante much more next time, having asked, “Moving into season 4, how much more vulnerable does that make our characters in a group?”

That’s a question for another day. That, coupled with Hopper’s fate, is still up in the air. So, if we do get some answers, it’ll hopefully form the crux of Stranger Things season 4 – if that ever comes to pass. And chances are, it will, as Stranger Things 3 was reportedly watched by over 50 million people across its first week on Netflix.

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