The time has come. As Netflix’s famed TV series Stranger Things continues to move through its production delays (thanks to last year’s WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes), an entirely new cast has been announced for an integral part of the pop culture phenomenon.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow Gets New Cast in London’s West End
“As the show approaches its first anniversary in the West End, Louis Healy will take over the role of Henry Creel with Callum Maxwell as Bob Newby, Miranda Mufema as Patty Newby, Luke Mullins as Dr Brenner, Jessica Rhodes as Joyce Maldonado [(the future Joyce Byers)], and George Smale as James Hopper Jr,” the official casting release reads.
The actors will join the West End production on November 14, and full casting will be announced soon. The First Shadow is written by Kate Trefry from a story by The Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne, and herself.
“As we enter our second year, we are thrilled to have assembled an incredible cast with new and familiar faces to take us back to Hawkins 1959,” said director Stephen Daldry and co-director Justin Martin. “We look forward to getting into the rehearsal room with them and exploring the characters anew.”
Stranger Things: The First Shadow recently picked up two Laurence Olivier Awards at this year’s annual Olivier Awards in London. The show won Best Entertainment, beating out the likes of Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends and Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial, and Best Set Design. Miriam Buether and 59 Productions won the latter award.
It was also nominated for Best Director (Daldry and Martin), Best Lighting Design (Jon Clark), and Best Sound Design (Paul Arditti). Stranger Things: The First Shadow is now playing at the Phoenix Theatre in the heart of London’s West End, with bookings available through April 2025. The Broadway production will begin previews on March 28, 2025, with opening night scheduled for April 22, 2025.
Do I Have To See Stranger Things: The First Shadow Before Season 5?
One of the most interesting things The First Shadow did was embellish Henry Creel’s backstory–that is, his journey to becoming One and eventually Vecna–so much that new characters entered the world of Hawkins, Indiana.
The most notable addition to the Stranger Things canon was Patty Newby, played by Ella Karuna Williams, the romantic interest of Henry Creel (played by Raphael Luce and Jamie Campbell Bower in the TV show). The new character is still alive–and out of reach from Vecna–in the final moments of the stage play.
It can be gleaned, then, that Patty Newby will likely appear in the upcoming fifth season of Stranger Things–whenever that may be–and could be the answer to banishing Vecna from Hawkins for good.
While Stranger Things: The First Shadow is part of the wider Stranger Things narrative and a canon story, it is not integral to the viewing experience for Season 5.
Producers will know that not everyone has the accessibility (it is heading to Broadway in 2025, however) or the finances to partake in extended media like the West End show. That said, for those who have or can see it, The First Shadow will enhance the franchise both retroactively and moving forward.
The record-breaking fourth season ended with Nancy (Natalia Fyer), Robin (Maya Hawke), and Steve (Joe Keery) tackling Vecna in the Upside Down while Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) fought her way back to her friends. In the final moments, audiences witnessed Will (Noah Schnapp) sensing Vecna and the Upside Down encroaching on Hawkins; all the while, Sadie Sink’s Max Mayfield remains comatose after her own pas de deux with the powerful villain.
When Is Stranger Things Season 5 Being Released?
As for Season 5, the fifth entry in the record-breaking Netflix series entered development years ago, with The Duffer Brothers (Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer) able to write the scripts before the fourth season had even begun filming. Season 5 would later be tweaked following the release of the two-part Season 4 in 2022.
After a long-awaited return, the fifth season of Stranger Things eventually kicked off production on January 8, 2024, following delays caused by the Hollywood labor strikes of 2023.
Fast-forward to March, and Millie Bobby Brown, the breakout star behind Eleven/Jane Hopper, shared an exciting update while promoting her most recent Netflix movie, Damsel (2024), on The Jonathan Ross Show: there were nine more months of filming left, and she had already dug into the scripts for six episodes; the first episode is called “Chapter One: The Crawl.”
Then, on June 27, Maya Hawke–who recently voiced the breakout character of Anxiety in the billion-dollar Inside Out 2 (2024)–dropped some major hints during her appearance on the Podcrushed podcast, teasing that this upcoming season feels like “basically eight movies,” with “very long” episodes.
Related: ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Official Teaser Finally Arrives
Not long after, on July 3, co-creator Ross Duffer revealed that production had officially hit the halfway mark—bringing fans one step closer to the highly anticipated next chapter. Terminator franchise star Linda Hamilton will also star in the fifth season, and while initially expected to play an adult Eleven, new reports surfaced that Hamilton will play a doctor or scientist role.
The Stranger Things Legacy
Stranger Things has become a defining series of the streaming era, catapulting Netflix to the forefront of original content creation. Since its 2016 debut, the show’s blend of 1980s nostalgia, supernatural intrigue, and deeply relatable characters has resonated with audiences globally, creating a cultural phenomenon.
The series has shattered records, with Season 4 alone racking up a staggering 1.35 billion hours of viewing time, making it one of Netflix’s most-watched English-language series, the second just behind Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday. Its gripping storytelling and distinctive visual style have cemented Stranger Things as a staple in modern pop culture, influencing everything from fashion and music to social media trends.
The breakout performances of its young cast—most notably Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven/Jane Hopper), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), Noah Schnapp (Will Byers), Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield), Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler), Joe Keery (Steve Harrington), and Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers)—have made them household names.
Related: Exclusive Chance: Select Fans To View ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 THIS MONTH
Veteran actors like David Harbour and Winona Ryder brought depth and emotional gravitas to their roles as Jim Hopper and Joyce Byers, respectively, further propelling the show’s success.
With a global fanbase, dedicated conventions, and iconic characters that have become instantly recognizable, Stranger Things is poised to leave a lasting legacy in television history, cementing its place as one of the most influential shows of the 21st century.
How do you feel about Stranger Things having an entire chapter of the saga that is unavailable for most? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!