Stranger Things season 5 explained

Season Number:5
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  1. 470E09
Showrunner:
Network:Netflix
Prev Season:Season 4

The fifth and final season of the American science fiction horror drama television series Stranger Things, marketed as Stranger Things 5, will be released on the streaming service Netflix. The season will be produced by the show's creators, the Duffer brothers, along with Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, isaac Iai, and Seweryn Kogut.

Returning as series regulars are Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson, Brett Gelman, Cara Buono, and Jamie Campbell Bower. Amybeth McNulty was promoted to series regular after appearing as a guest in the previous season, while Linda Hamilton joined the main cast in an undisclosed role. The season is expected to be released in 2025.

Cast and characters

Main

Also starring

Confirmed

Episodes

See also: List of Stranger Things episodes.

Production

Development

On February 17, 2022, series creators Matt and Ross Duffer released an expansive letter about Stranger Things that revealed, amongst other revelations, the fourth season's two-part release schedule, their intention to produce a spinoff series set in the world of the show for Netflix, and the renewal of the series for a fifth and final season.[2] The duo had originally indicated the show was planned to run for a maximum four seasons, but a fifth season run was later teased by producers in 2017.[3]

As with seasons past, planning for the fifth and final season of Stranger Things began before the preceding season's release. However, due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Duffers were able to completely outline the fifth season before the fourth had even begun shooting, which was a departure from their usual development cadence. They then revisited their outline and reworked the structure and events of season five based on feedback they received after the release of season four, even going so far as to alter the series' ending. Executive producer Shawn Levy was confirmed to be directing at least one episode in the season by September 2023.[4]

Writing

Writing for the fifth season began on August 2, 2022, about a month after the premiere of season 4 volume 2.[5] On November 6, 2022 (Stranger Things Day), it was announced that the first episode would be titled "Chapter One: The Crawl" and would be written by the Duffers.[6] As noted by the Duffers in the WGFestival 2022, some unused ideas originally conceived for the second season were implemented in the fifth season's storylines. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic's effects on the entertainment industry, the Duffers had time to outline the fifth season before even the fourth season could be shot, edited and released, but once the fourth season was released, the Duffers received some feedback from both the fans and collaborators of the show, leading them to re-write some plans for the season, namely the series finale, and pitch them to Netflix, though they noted that most of their original plan stayed unchanged.[7] The writers team described the tone of the season as if "season 1 and 4 had a baby" which was "injected with steroids".[8] On May 6, 2023, the Duffer Brothers announced that writing for season 5 had been paused due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.[9] On September 27, the day that the strike ended, the Stranger Things Writers account posted an image stating "We're back",[10] officially confirming that writing had resumed. On the same day, Netflix revealed that they were prioritizing the scripts of the season due to the aging cast.[11] On October 14, 2023, it was revealed that writing was over halfway done.[12]

Casting

The fifth season features the return of Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson, Brett Gelman, Cara Buono, and Jamie Campbell Bower.[13] In June 2023 during Netflix's TUDUM event, it was announced that Linda Hamilton would be joining the cast.[14] Hamilton had contacted the Duffer Brothers on Zoom, providing her with information about the "shape" of her character, but not story.[15] When production began in January 2024, a set photo released by the team confirmed the return of Amybeth McNulty as Vickie.[16] In July 2024, Nell Fisher, Jake Connelly, and Alex Breaux joined the cast.[17] [18]

Filming

After a significant delay due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes, production for the fifth season officially began on January 8, 2024.[19] By March 2024, Brown stated that there was nine months left of filming and that she had then read the script for six episodes.[20] On June 27, Maya Hawke revealed on the "Podcrushed" podcast that the season will consist of "basically eight movies," and that the episodes are "very long".[21] On July 3, Ross Duffer revealed that production was halfway done.[22]

Release

The season is expected to be released in 2025.[23] [24]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Joe Chrest confirmed Ted is returning in Stranger Things Season 5 in an interview with Monday Morning Critic Podcast . February 20, 2024 . July 28, 2024.
  2. Web site: February 17, 2022 . 'Stranger Things' Renewed For Fifth And Final Season, Gets Premiere Dates For Split Season 4 As Duffer Brothers Tease Potential Spinoffs . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220222151234/https://deadline.com/2022/02/stranger-things-renewed-season-5-final-season-4-premiere-date-1234935526/ . February 22, 2022 . December 22, 2022 . Deadline.
  3. September 28, 2017 . Stranger Things will likely go beyond 4 seasons, per producers . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221223045855/https://ew.com/tv/2017/09/28/netflix-stranger-things-how-many-seasons/ . December 23, 2022 . December 22, 2022 . Entertainment Weekly.
  4. Web site: McPherson . Chris . September 11, 2023 . Shawn Levy Confirms He Is Returning to Direct For 'Stranger Things' Season 5 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230912035112/https://collider.com/stranger-things-season-5-directing-shawn-levy-comments/ . September 12, 2023 . February 18, 2024 . Collider.
  5. Web site: Writers . Stranger . August 2, 2022 . Day 1 . January 10, 2024 . January 10, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240110212303/https://twitter.com/strangerwriters/status/1554531728466722817 . live .
  6. Web site: Tinoco . Armando . November 6, 2022 . 'Stranger Things': Title Of Episode 1 From Fifth & Final Season Revealed . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221107012713/https://deadline.com/2022/11/stranger-things-title-season-5-episode-1-final-season-revealed-1235165081/ . November 7, 2022 . November 7, 2022 . Deadline Hollywood.
  7. Web site: November 21, 2022 . The Duffers Just Shared Something About the 'Big Ending' of 'Stranger Things' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221122155159/https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/duffer-brothers-stranger-things-season-5-wgfest-interview . November 22, 2022 . November 26, 2022 . Tudum.
  8. Web site: March 21, 2023 . Stranger Things Writers Use Baby Injected With Steroids in Season 5 Description . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230323160701/https://comicbook.com/horror/news/stranger-things-season-5-description-writer-baby-injected-steroids/ . March 23, 2023 . March 23, 2023 . ComicBook.com.
  9. Web site: Writing on the fifth and final season of Stranger Things has been paused . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231109130646/https://twitter.com/strangerwriters/status/1654955071631765506?s=46 . November 9, 2023 . October 22, 2023.
  10. Web site: Stranger Things writers resume writing on the fifth and final season . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231109125942/https://twitter.com/strangerwriters/status/1706927074576105646?s=46 . November 9, 2023 . October 22, 2023.
  11. Web site: Netflix to Prioritize Scripts for Wednesday Season 2 & Stranger Things Final Season . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929121104/https://movieweb.com/netflix-prioritize-scripts-wednesday-stranger-things/ . September 29, 2023 . October 22, 2023 . MovieWeb. September 28, 2023 .
  12. Web site: 'What does a mega episode of "Stranger Things" look like onstage?' Inside 'The First Shadow' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231022183605/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-10-14/stranger-things-first-shadow-prequel-henry-creel-vecna-hopper-joyce . October 22, 2023 . October 22, 2023 . Los Angeles Times. October 14, 2023 .
  13. Web site: West . Amy . August 28, 2023 . Stranger Things season 5: All we know so far about the Netflix show's final chapter . January 10, 2024 . January 12, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240112135518/https://www.gamesradar.com/stranger-things-season-5-release-date-netflix-plot/ . live .
  14. Web site: Rosenbloom . Alli . June 18, 2023 . 'Terminator' star Linda Hamilton joins cast of 'Stranger Things' for final season . . https://web.archive.org/web/20231118052522/https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/18/entertainment/linda-hamilton-stranger-things/index.html . January 9, 2024 . November 18, 2023 . live .
  15. Web site: Grebenyuk . Yana . February 15, 2024 . Why 'Stranger Things' Gave Linda Hamilton 'Imposter Syndrome' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240215155220/https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/why-stranger-things-gave-linda-hamilton-imposter-syndrome/ . February 15, 2024 . February 18, 2024 . Us Weekly.
  16. Web site: Bankhurst . Adam . January 8, 2024 . Stranger Things Season 5 Officially Begins Production, Cast Photo Revealed . January 10, 2024 . January 10, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240110204509/https://www.ign.com/articles/stranger-things-season-5-officially-begins-production-cast-photo-revealed . live.
  17. Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . July 15, 2024 . 'Stranger Things 5': Nell Fisher, Alex Breaux & Jake Connelly Join Cast; BTS Video Marks Final Season Filming Midpoint . July 15, 2024 . July 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240715142356/https://deadline.com/2024/07/stranger-things-season-5-nell-fisher-alex-breaux-jake-connelly-cast-bts-video-1236010110/ . live . Deadline Hollywood.
  18. Web site: Vary . Adam B.. July 15, 2024 . ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 First Look: Nostalgic, Slimy Behind-the-Scenes Footage Reveals New Cast Members . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240715144844/https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/stranger-things-season-5-first-look-millie-bobby-brown-new-cast-1236071959/ . July 15, 2024 . July 15, 2024 . Variety.
  19. Web site: Petski . Denise . January 8, 2024 . 'Stranger Things' Is Officially In Production On Season 5 — First Photo . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240108214709/https://deadline.com/2024/01/stranger-things-production-begins-season-5-1235699016/ . January 8, 2024 . January 8, 2024 . Deadline Hollywood.
  20. Web site: Flook . Ray . March 9, 2024 . Stranger Things 5 Has 9 Months of Filming Left: Millie Bobby Brown . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240310044818/https://bleedingcool.com/tv/stranger-things-5-has-9-months-of-filming-left-millie-bobby-brown/ . March 10, 2024 . March 10, 2024 . Bleeding Cool.
  21. Web site: Stedman . Alex . July 2, 2024 . Stranger Things Season 5 Will Be 'Basically, Eight Movies,' Says Maya Hawke . July 3, 2024 . IGN Southeast Asia . en-sg . July 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240715011436/https://sea.ign.com/stranger-things/217734/news/stranger-things-season-5-will-be-basically-eight-movies-says-maya-hawke . live .
  22. Web site: July 4, 2024 . July 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240704031703/https://deadline.com/2024/07/stranger-things-season-5-production-halfway-1236001135/ . July 3, 2024 . Dessi . Gomez . ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Production Reaches ‘Happy Halfway’ Mark, 24 Weeks Down . live . Deadline Hollywood.
  23. Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . February 1, 2024 . 'Stranger Things', 'Ginny & Georgia', 'Wednesday' & 'Virgin River' Among Hit Netflix Series Not Returning Until 2025 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240201161901/https://deadline.com/2024/02/stranger-things-ginny-amp-georgia-wednesday-virgin-river-delayed-2025-netflix-1235810685/ . February 1, 2024 . February 1, 2024 . Deadline Hollywood.
  24. Web site: Peralta . Diego . May 17, 2024 . Nancy's Behind the Wheel in New 'Stranger Things' Season 5 Image . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240518120811/https://collider.com/stranger-things-season-5-image/ . May 18, 2024 . May 18, 2024 . Collider.