Stranger Things season 2 casts Samwise Gamgee and the bad guy from Aliens

Now that we know Eleven will be back for Stranger Things season 2, we can start meeting some of the new faces of Hawkins, Indiana. Entertainment Weekly has confirmed three new actors and their roles for the in-production series. You'll likely recognize a couple of them for their roles in the '80s adventure/horror flicks that helped influence Stranger Things, just like Winona Ryder's brilliant casting as Joyce Byers.

Here are the new character synopses and castings from Netflix:

Bob Newby, played by Sean Astin:  "A kindhearted former nerd who went to high school with Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Hopper (David Harbour) and now manages the local Hawkins RadioShack".

Dr. Owens, played by Paul Reiser: "A high-ranking member within the Department of Energy on a 'clean-up' assignment, tasked with containing the events of last year”.

Roman, played by Linnea Berthelsen: "An emotionally damaged, magnetic young woman who suffered a great loss as a child. Although she does not live in Hawkins, she is mysteriously connected to the supernatural events at the lab…"

Sean Astin is best known these days for his role as Samwise Gamgee, stalwart ally of Frodo Baggins from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Fans of Stranger Things' source material will also know him as Mikey from The Goonies. And they'll remember Paul Reiser as Carter Burke, the slimy company man from Aliens. Chances are good that he'll be every bit as much of a cretin in Stranger Things season 2.

Danish actress Linnea Berthelsen is the wild card. Given her age, she might be the Eleven-equivalent mysterious newcomer for Hawkins' adolescent set. I wonder if Eleven will recognize her when she gets back from… wherever she is right now?

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