Credit: NetflixAfter years of waiting, the fifth and final season of Stranger Things has finally premiered on Netflix, offering up its first four episodes (collectively dubbed Volume 1), with the next three arriving on December 25 (Christmas Day) and the finale on December 31 (New Year’s Eve).
Watch the official trailer for Season 5 Volume 1 below:
Related: ‘Stranger Things’ Has Revealed 3 Characters Likely to Die in Season 5
Stranger Things Season 5
Picking up where Season 4 left off, we return to Hawkins, Indiana, to find the town literally split down the middle following Vecna’s terrifying earthquake. Meanwhile, our extensive ensemble of heroes — Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair, Mike Wheeler, Will Byers, Eleven, Jim Hopper, Joyce Byers, Steve Harrington, Nancy Wheeler, Robin Buckley, Jonathan Byers, Murray Bauman, Holly Wheeler, Erica Sinclair, and Max Mayfield — prepare for one last battle against the “dark wizard” of the Upside Down, Vecna (AKA Henry Creel and One).
The Success of Stranger Things
Stranger Things first arrived on Netflix in 2016 and quickly became a global cultural phenomenon, spawning not only subsequent seasons, but an entire multimedia franchise that includes comic books, novels, video games, board games, and even a stage production.
The Franchise Will Continue After Season 5 Ends
But while Season 5 is billed as the last installment in the flagship series, Stranger Things will continue in other forms in the coming years. Just this week sees the arrival of yet another new novel titled “One Way or Another”, which focuses on Nancy and Robin and is set between seasons 4 and 5.
And next year, another spinoff will arrive, titled Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, a 3D animated series that takes place between the second and third seasons.
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85
The series was first announced by Netflix earlier this year. It will be executive-produced by the Stranger Things creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, and will see the return of characters Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, Max, and many others, as they encounter terrifying new threats from the Upside Down.
However, none of the actors from the live-action series will be returning for the animated reboot. The voice actors for Tales From ’85 are listed below:
- Brett Gipson as Jim Hopper
- Luca Diaz as Mike Wheeler
- Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven/Jane Hopper
- Braxton Quinney as Dustin Henderson
- Elisha Williams as Lucas Sinclair
- Ben Plessala as Will Byers
- Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max Mayfield
Is Tales From ’85 Canon?
It’s unclear as to whether the show is strictly canon; however, it’s worth noting a few things. Earlier this year, Tales From ’85 showrunner and executive producer Eric Robles said that the animated series The Real Ghostbusters set the show’s tone and was their “north star”.
“It all went back to The Real Ghostbusters,” he said. “It was silly but had a handful of dark, creepy episodes and we just kept talking about that. That became the north star for us.” It’s worth noting that while The Real Ghostbusters acknowledges its live-action counterparts as canon, that continuity is not reciprocated by the Ghostbusters films.
A preview held at Annecy also showcased creatures that will appear in Tales From ’85, including “Upside Down pumpkin zombies and a snow shark”, which obviously breaks canon as those things aren’t mentioned anywhere in the flagship Netflix series.
It’s unlikely Stranger Things fans will be disappointed by the questionable canon and recasting, though — after all, we’re getting more adventures from Hawkins, and while of course it does happen, live-action actors seldom reprise their roles in animated projects.
Tales From ’85 Release Date and Teaser
Tales from ’85 is scheduled to premiere on Netflix in 2026. You can watch the official featurette for the new series below, which features commentary from the Duffer brothers and Eric Robles.
Related: ‘Stranger Things’ May Have Revealed Season 5’s Monster
Where Can I Watch Stranger Things?
Seasons 1 — 4 and the first four episodes of Season 5 are now streaming on Netflix.
Stranger Things Season 5 stars Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Millie Bobby Brown, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Joe Keery, Natalia Dyer, Maya Hawke, Charlie Heaton, Brett Gelman, Nell Fisher, Priah Ferguson, Sadie Sink, Jamie Campbell Bower, Cara Buono, and Linda Hamilton.
Are you excited about all the new Stranger Things content? What are your predictions for the finale? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!