When Stranger Issues season 5 wrapped with its extremely emotional eighth episode, followers weren’t able to say goodbye to Hawkins — or the Upside Down. Virtually instantly, theories started circulating on-line suggesting the Duffer Brothers had one last trick up their sleeves: a secret ninth episode allegedly set to drop January 7. (Wishful considering? Completely. Did many people consider it anyway? Additionally sure.)
Now, Ross and Matt Duffer are formally shutting down the rumors — whereas nonetheless leaving only a tiny crack within the door.
Amid hypothesis that season 5 wasn’t really the top, the creators addressed the opportunity of extra Stranger Issues episodes in an interview with Leisure Tonight printed January 2. And in keeping with Ross, the finale actually did imply what it mentioned.
“I really feel like this season actually, really does shut the door on this story,” Ross defined, referring not solely to Hawkins however “the story of the Upside Down and the story of those characters.”
Nonetheless, he couldn’t resist including slightly hope for followers who aren’t able to let go. “I assume by no means say by no means,” Ross quipped, joking {that a} return may occur “in 20 years, if we’re all broke and wish some cash,” calling the concept his and Matt’s “security internet.”
For now, although, the Duffer Brothers are standing agency that the core story is full — and the forged appears to agree. Finn Wolfhard, who performed Mike Wheeler, beforehand shared his ideas on returning to the franchise sooner or later.
“If there’s a narrative after we’re all in very, very totally different levels of our lives, possibly,” Wolfhard instructed Leisure Tonight. “However I believe that the entire level of the present ending is as a result of it’s run its course.”
Netflix additionally appeared keen to place the ninth-episode rumors to relaxation. On January 7 — the date followers have been satisfied one thing huge would occur — the streamer quietly up to date the bios for Stranger Issues’ official social media accounts to learn: “ALL EPISODES OF STRANGER THINGS ARE NOW PLAYING.” Message acquired.
Whereas that replace successfully ended the so-called “Conformity Gate” concept, the Stranger Issues universe isn’t disappearing completely. Netflix is about to launch One Final Journey, a documentary chronicling the making of season 5, on January 12. And the Duffers have confirmed that two further tasks are nonetheless in improvement.
A kind of is a live-action spinoff that may discover Henry Creel’s mysterious previous. “The spinoff goes to delve into that and clarify that, and also you’re going to grasp it,” Matt instructed Selection in an interview printed January 1. “However it’s a totally totally different mythology.”
He added, “It’s very recent and really new, however sure, it can reply among the free threads which can be remaining.”
Whether or not these threads embrace lingering questions — like how the Hawkins crew averted penalties after years of chaos, Hopper reclaiming his job, Max graduating after a coma, or how Vecna was defeated so simply — stays to be seen.
