All good things must come to an end—even Stranger Things. The hit Netflix sci-fi thriller, which first arrived in the summer of 2016, will conclude with its fifth season, which has
no release date yet. The show's creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, announced the news with a bittersweet letter to fans on Feb. 17.
“Seven years ago, we planned out the complete story arc for Stranger Things,” they wrote. “At the time, we predicted the story would last four to five seasons. It proved too large to tell in four, but—as you'll soon see for yourselves—we are now hurtling toward our finale. Season 4 will be the penultimate season; season 5 will be the last.”
The news arrives months before Stranger Things' season 4 premiere. Here's what we know about the final season so far.
When will it be released?
It's too early to say. In the meantime, though, we can look forward to the two-part season 4, which arrives this summer. The first volume premieres on May 27 while the second comes July 1.
As the Duffers say in their letter, it took almost two years to film the fourth season. While filming during the height of the pandemic and lockdown surely involved its own delays, producing a massive finale season will likely require a long wait too.
What will it be about?
How do you sum up this epic story that transcends dimensions and stretches far beyond the borders of Hawkins, Indiana? The Duffers have a plan; we're just not privy to it yet.
“There are still many more exciting stories to tell within the world of Stranger Things; new mysteries, new adventures, new unexpected heroes,” they added in their letter—perhaps opening the door to potential spinoffs in the future. “But first we hope that you stay with us as we finish this tale of a powerful girl named Eleven and her brave friends, of a broken police chief and a ferocious mom, of a small town called Hawkins and an alternate dimension called the Upside Down. As always, we are gracious for your patience and your support.”