Stranger Things Reveals A 3-Part Release Schedule For The Final Season

Stranger Things knows how to cause a stir. Even before Season 4 was out, the creators of the Netflix series revealed lots of info about the upcoming season. However, amid all the hubbub, one piece of information stood out: Stranger Things 5 will be the show’s final season. With the end in sight, here’s what to expect from Stranger Things 5, including updates on the series’ release date, cast, and trailer reveals.

When Stranger Things debuted in the summer of 2016, it did so with little fanfare and even less marketing. But Netflix execs underestimated the draw of a series that mixed the ’80s idealism of Steven Spielberg with the horror of Stephen King, and the show soon became one of the streaming service’s biggest flagship series.

The creators of the series, Matt and Ross Duffer (better known as the Duffer Brothers), previously confirmed that Stranger Things 4 would not be the final season, but they also acknowledged that they knew exactly how the show would end. In an open letter to fans shared on Feb. 17, 2022, the Duffer Brothers revealed Season 4 would be released in two volumes, followed by a fifth and final season.

So, let’s get into it, nerds.

Prepare For A Time Jump

With each season, the story of Stranger Things progresses a year at a time. For example, Season 4 was set in 1986, so audiences naturally expected Season 5’s events to happen in 1987. But the new season might make an even more significant jump. Ross Duffer revealed in a 2022 interview with TVLine that because the show’s young stars have visibly aged so much in recent years, the final season will need to implement a time jump. “I’m sure we will do a time jump,” Duffer said. “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.”

There Will Be Spinoffs

When Netflix announced the renewal of Season 4 in 2019, the streamer also reported an overall deal with the Duffers, promising new stories would come from them. At the time, viewers assumed that included a possible Season 5 and beyond for Stranger Things, even though the statement didn’t explicitly state that.

The Duffers’ Feb. 17, 2022 open letter officially confirmed Season 5 would indeed happen. Although there weren’t many details in the letter, one thing did stick out: the mention of new mysteries to come “within the world of Stranger Things.” So while Season 5 is the end of the series, it’s not the franchise’s end. The Duffers have since confirmed at least one spinoff is in the works.

There’s 1 New Cast Member

Although Stranger Things 4, Vol. 2 featured a few deaths, the core cast of kids are heading back to Hawkins for Season 5. Millie Bobby Brown should return as Eleven, Finn Wolfhard as Mike, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas, Noah Schnapp as Will, and, despite her character being in a coma, Sadie Sink will be back as Max.

Natalia Dyer will also be back as Will’s sister Nancy, Charlie Heaton as Will Byers’ brother Jonathan, and Joe Keery as Steve filling out their love triangle. Also coming back: Priah Ferguson as Lucas’ sister Erica, Maya Hawke as Robin, and going off the final shots, Amybeth McNulty as Robin’s love interest Vickie.

The Duffers’ letter also mentioned “a broken police chief” and a “ferocious mom,” which refers to Hopper and Joyce, played by David Harbour and Winona Ryder. Sadly, the Duffers confirmed Eddie is gone, so chances are Joseph Quinn is done with the series.

The Duffers also confirmed there would be flashbacks to fill in Brenner’s years with One and how he became the imprisoned “orderly” Eleven met. That means Matthew Modine will be back, as will Jamie Campbell Bower as One/Henry/Vecna.

And there’s one new face joining the cast. The Terminator star Linda Hamilton will enter Hawkins in an undisclosed role for the final season.

The Final Season Has 3 Different Release Dates

After production on the season lasted throughout 2024, a release date was finally confirmed in the summer of 2025. Or, more accurately, release dates.

Netflix confirmed Season 5 will be released in three parts. “Volume 1” will be released on Nov. 26, 2025, “Volume 2” will be available to stream on Dec. 25, 2025, and bringing the whole saga to a close, “The Finale” will drop on Dec. 31, 2025.

The Episode Titles Are Very Ominous

A Netflix teaser revealed the titles of the final eight episodes. They are: “The Crawl,” “The Vanishing of _____,” “The Turnbow Trap,” “Sorcerer,” “Shock Jock,” “Escape From Camazotz,” “The Bridge” and “The Rightside Up.”