The Duffer Brothers debunk popular Stranger Things fan theory that suggests Eleven is alive, joke that they'll reveal her fate "20 years from now"

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.

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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."

Matt & Ross Duffer on STRANGER THINGS' end, Eleven's fate, Steve's "death", original casting choices - YouTube

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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.