Stranger Things Stars Reunite to Begin Production on Long-Awaited Final Season

It's the beginning of the end for the Stranger Things crew!

On Monday, Netflix revealed that production on the fifth and final season of the beloved sci-fi show has begun.

Along with the long-awaited announcement, the streamer also shared a photo of the cast of the ‘80s-set series — including Millie Bobby Brown, David Harbour and Winona Ryder — as they reunited in a room under the light of a glowing neon “5” sign.

Also in the cast picture are stars Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Noah Schnapp, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Sadie Sink, Priah Ferguson, Cara Buono, Amybeth McNulty, Brett Gelman and Finn Wolfhard, who appears to be holding a script.

The shot also included series creators the Duffer brothers and Jamie Campbell Bower, who joined the cast in season 4 as new Big Bad Vecna.

The photo did not include any new faces, staying true to the Duffer brothers plan to resist adding new characters to the Stranger Things universe in the series’ final season. (Although it was announced last June that Terminator star Linda Hamilton will be joining the cast for its final batch of episodes.)

In August 2022, shortly after season 4 released, the showrunners confirmed to Indiewire that they are being particularly mindful about wrapping up the existing characters' stories.

"We're doing our best to resist [adding new characters] for season 5," Matt Duffer, 39, said at the time, noting that they are "trying not to do that so we can focus on the OG characters, I guess."

His twin Ross added, "We've got a great cast of characters here, and actors, and any moment we're spending with a new character, we're taking time away from one of the other actors."

The Duffers have also teased their endgame for the show in previous interviews and — put simply — it sounds emotional.

In a conversation with TheWrap in May 2022, Ross revealed that some Netflix executives actually became emotional when they shared their plans for the final season.

"We do have an outline for season 5 and we pitched it to Netflix and they really responded well to it,” he said at the time. "I mean, it was hard. It's the end of the story. I saw executives crying who I've never seen cry before and it was wild."

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Although season 5 will be the final season of Stranger Things, Netflix has additional projects in the Stranger Things universe in the works, including an animated spinoff show and prequel play Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which debuted on London's West End in December.

Stranger Things seasons 1 through 4 are currently streaming on Netflix.