The final season of Stranger Things looms large for the franchise. While it was previously unknown when filming would begin, recent comments by series actor David Harbour have revealed that the Netflix series will begin filming next year.
Stranger Things wrapped its fourth season back in July. Stranger Things season 4 was an emotional affair and was probably the darkest season yet. The season ended with Max (Sadie Sink), who had overcome her feelings of suicidal ideation, in a coma following the success of Vecna's (Jamie Campbell Bower) grand plan to open a giant portal to the Upside Down in the middle of Hawkins. While the gang believed they had foiled the worst of it, the closing moments of the episode revealed that the plan had only been delayed as spores from the Upside Down rained down on Hawkins and an ominous cloud loomed over the wrecked town.
In an interview with Den of Geek, Harbour dropped the tidbit about filming next year in the middle of a statement about the overall flow of Stranger Things season 5 and its current status in the writing process. “We’ll start shooting next year, and we’ll try to get it to you as soon as possible. I sort of know general arcs and themes, and such. And as you’ve seen with each successive season, from 1, 2, 3, to 4, which was this big explosion, 5 is going to be no less impressive and spectacular," Harbour said. "I think we’ll push it all a step forward because of your relationship with these characters. And it’ll be the final one. So I have a feeling that they’ll stick the landing very well, and everyone will be very happy.”
Recent speculation has centered on which of the main characters is most likely to die in Stranger Things season 5. While the fates of the characters are up in the air, Harbour intimated that Hopper's happiest ending would be one in which everyone is safe. When asked, Harbour says Hopper would be happiest “If the people he loves were safe [...] And I think what would make him happiest is to be able to see and protect the ones that he loves.”
It's already been confirmed that the episodes in Stranger Things season 5 will have a shorter runtime. While some episodes of season 4 clocked in at over two hours, it appears that season 5 will instead focus on more intricate and intimate character moments that will highlight the gang that audiences have grown close to over the last six years. Stranger Things season 4 was a globetrotting adventure that took some of the characters to Russia, while season 5 will likely center around Hawkins.
The writers are certainly enjoying the speculation. Recently, they shared a tease of Stranger Things season 5's plot with a blurred photo of a whiteboard in the writers' room. From what can be discerned from the photograph, it looks like season 5 will feature fewer episodes than season 4 did, as it will seemingly only have eight episodes in the season when compared to season 4's episode count of nine. The writers, who post frequently on their "Stranger Writers" Twitter account, like to tease fans and reveal behind-the-scenes information about the hit series.
Stranger Things seasons 1-4 are now available on Netflix.
Source: Den of Geek