Since 2022, tension has been building amongst fans of the Netflix Original Series, Stranger Things, as they wait for the incoming fifth and final season. However, this tension has been rising more recently, as rumor has it that the season was delayed and content had been leaked, inspiring many fan theories and questions about what is to come.
Filmed by the Duffer Brothers in Atlanta, Ga., the elusive Season 5 has been in the making since January of 2024, after having been delayed for various reasons. There has been much confusion as to when it will be released, however, recent sources are saying that it is expected to be out sometime in the first half of 2025.
Where there is restlessness in a fan base, there will be plenty of fan theories, especially when Stranger Things is concerned.
What would it mean if the entire television series turned out to be just one big Dungeons and Dragons campaign? Believe it or not, some fans have theorized it as a potential turn-out for the final season. However, according to Screenrant, this possibility has been altogether denied by the Duffer Brothers, despite still being an interesting idea.
Another theory presented is whether or not Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) will succumb to Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), the show’s antagonist. For the majority of the saga, Byers has had a supernatural connection to the antagonist through links to the “Upside Down World”; the warped, evil version of the world in the 80s. Throughout the series, characters have undergone many sacrifices in order to break this dangerous link, however, some fans have speculated several the allusions to it in later seasons indicate its continuity.
Aside from the theories, there has been some alleged leaked content from the upcoming season. Fan rumors have suggested that titles of future episodes have been spoiled, as well as some footage and photos of characters. Footage of duos such as Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard) and Jane “Eleven” Hopper (Millie Bobby Brown), as well as photos of Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton) have reportedly been revealed by the Duffer Brothers. However, there remains to be no credible evidence or sources confirming this — for all we know, it could be created by fans seeking attention via AI or other modes of production.
The delay on the show has been a well-known fact for quite some time now, partially due to multiple strikes against the show that have forced the progress to halt, namely the Sag-AFTRA strikes, which have been notorious for slowing the production of a lot of entertainment. According to Digital Trends, “Due to the Hollywood labor strikes, Stranger Things season 5 has been significantly delayed. Production was due to start in May 2023 for a potential 2024 release. However, the work stoppages forced the show to pause all activities. After a lengthy hiatus, production on season 5 began in January 2024.”
Despite the lag, according to Economic Times, at least one cast member, didn’t really mind the delay, “The filming for Season 5 of Stranger Things was initially planned to commence in May 2023. However, due to the Hollywood strikes, production was delayed until January.” Actor Finn Wolfhard expressed his opinion on the situation, stating that he didn’t mind the show taking longer to wrap up and was just glad to be a part of the cast.
With all this build-up, fans of the epic saga are readier than ever for the finale to be released. So, who will go missing next? Can the characters overcome the evil that has been plaguing the town of Hawkins for decades? Will the end of our favorite show ultimately be worth the three-year wait? We will just have to hang in there until the time comes so we can see for ourselves.
