The fifth season of “Stranger Things” promises an epic showdown filled with suspense. Since 2016, we’ve followed the story of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Will (Noah Schnapp), and their friends. While visual effects sequences are already in progress, fans will need to be patient before witnessing the Duffer Brothers’ mystery finale on Netflix.
There is no trailer for “Stranger Things” Season 5 yet, but a teaser video has announced its release for 2025:
“Stranger Things” Season 5: Netflix Release Confirmed
At the SCAD TVfest, the Duffer Brothers confirmed that “Stranger Things” Season 5 will premiere on Netflix sometime in 2025:
“We are currently focused on the visual effects sequences. We started working on them in January, and things are going well. In fact, we are ahead of schedule – which is rare for us.”
Previously, a statement by Matt Duffer had worried fans when he told Variety that releasing the season this year would be “a pretty big challenge.” However, he has since backtracked, reassuring fans that “Stranger Things” Season 5 will be released this year.
Although Netflix wrapped up filming in December 2024, post-production will take considerable time. A fitting release date for the finale could be Stranger Things Day on November 6—the day Will Byers first disappeared. However, a fan site claims to have discovered in Netflix’s website source code that “Stranger Things” Season 5 might not be released until November 27, 2025:
🚨| Did we just uncover the possible release date for Stranger Things 5?
By examining Netflix’s website code, we discovered that the internal release date for #StrangerThings5 is listed as:
🗓️ Thursday, November 27, 2025
What are your thoughts on this potential date?… pic.twitter.com/Uy4jyANoxr
— Stranger Things News (@UpsideDownScoop) January 22, 2025
Netflix has not confirmed this yet. According to the Duffers, this might just be a placeholder, as even they don’t know the exact date. However, their statement hints that the return to the Upside Down will take place in at least two parts—since they referred to multiple dates. Additionally, we already know that Season 5 will consist of eight feature-length episodes. No surprise there—at the Next On Netflix event in January 2025, the Duffer Brothers revealed that they had filmed over 600 hours of footage.
“Stranger Things”: Time Jump in Season 5
It has been officially confirmed that the final season will begin with a familiar song:
Season 5. Chapter 1. Scene 1. pic.twitter.com/TIkf1DNipu
— stranger writers (@strangerwriters) November 7, 2023
“Darkness. The sound of cold wind. Creaking trees. And… A child’s voice. Singing a familiar song.”
Netflix has also announced a time jump: Season 5 will begin in the fall of 1987, about a year and a half after Eleven, Mike, and Will watched the chaos unfold from the field. Furthermore, an Instagram post by Ross Duffer suggests another time jump. It shows Max’s (Sadie Sink) hand in Lucas’s (Caleb McLaughlin) hand, with his wristwatch displaying Thursday, November 2. Since Stranger Things is set in the 1980s, this date can only belong to the year 1989—implying that Max has been in a coma for over three years.
“Stranger Things” Season 5: Episode Titles Revealed – What’s Next?
The episode titles for “Stranger Things” Season 5 have now been revealed:
- Episode 1: “The Crawl”
- Episode 2: “The Vanishing of …” (partially revealed)
- Episode 3: “The Turnbow Trap”
- Episode 4: “Sorcerer”
- Episode 5: “Shock Jock”
- Episode 6: “Escape from Camazotz”
- Episode 7: “The Bridge”
- Episode 8: “The Rightside Up”
These titles offer some clues about how the series finale will unfold. At the Next On Netflix event, a first teaser for the new episodes was also shown. In it, Eleven warns Mike that he can’t save the world alone. He replies that she’s right—but together, they can.
Warning: Spoilers for “Stranger Things” Season 4 Ahead
Eleven and her allies must face Vecna, aka One (Jamie Campbell Bower), one last time to save Hawkins from destruction. Although they managed to severely injure him both in the Upside Down and in the real world, he survived. As the final scenes suggest, he is already preparing for his next attack. As snow-like ash falls on Hawkins, nature begins to decay, and half the town is once again engulfed in flames. How Eleven, Mike, and their friends will ultimately defeat the dangerous monster will unfold later this year.
“Stranger Things” Season 5: Cast – Who’s Returning?
The following cast members will be back for “Stranger Things” Season 5:
- Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven
- Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler
- Noah Schnapp as Will Byers
- Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson
- Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair
- Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield
- Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna
- Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler
- Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers
- Joe Keery as Steve Harrington
- Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley
- Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers
- David Harbour as Jim Hopper
- Priah Ferguson as Erica Sinclair
- Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler
- Amybeth McNulty as Vickie
- Brett Gelman as Murray Bauman
Eduardo Franco, who played Argyle, has confirmed in an interview that he will not be returning for Season 5. So fans should not expect to see the beloved pizza delivery guy again. Instead, Terminator star Linda Hamilton is joining the cast, though her role remains undisclosed. Additionally, Nell Fisher (Evil Dead Rise), Jake Connelly (Joe Picket), and Alex Breaux will make their “Stranger Things” debut in Season 5.
The fate of Joseph Quinn remains uncertain. His character, Eddie Munson, quickly became a fan favorite in Season 4, but seemingly met his demise after sacrificing himself for his newfound friends. When asked about a possible return in an Entertainment Tonight interview, Quinn responded cryptically:
“I might have a feeling. Or maybe not. I don’t know. Who knows?”
Interestingly, the title of Episode 6, “Escape from Camazotz,” has fueled speculation about Eddie’s return. In Dungeons & Dragons, Camazotz is a bat god, which raises the possibility that Eddie may not have truly perished at the hands of the demonic bats. Fans might still have reason to hope.
Before the “Stranger Things” Finale: A Theatrical Expansion
Sadly, Stranger Things isn’t a NeverEnding Story. Season 5 will mark the conclusion of the beloved series. Even before the first episodes aired on Netflix, the showrunners had planned to wrap up the story within four or five seasons.
For those dreading a final farewell to Hawkins and the Upside Down, there’s good news—several Stranger Things spin-offs are in development. While details remain unknown, the small-town setting and eerie parallel dimension offer plenty of potential for expansion, and Matt and Ross Duffer are sure to capitalize on it.
A first glimpse into the extended Stranger Things universe is already available outside of Netflix. A prequel stage play, titled “Stranger Things: The First Shadow”, is currently running at the Phoenix Theatre in London, with tickets starting at £20. The play will even make its way to Broadway in March 2025, as revealed in an Instagram post.
