The New Stranger Things Season 5 Trailer Teases 1 Last Epic Battle

Stranger Things knows how to cause a stir. Even before Season 4 was out, the creators of the Netflix series revealed lots of info about the upcoming season. However, amid all the hubbub, one piece of information stood out: Stranger Things Season 5 will be the show’s final season. With the end in sight, here’s what to expect from the new season, including updates on the series’ release date, cast, and trailer reveals.

When Stranger Things debuted in the summer of 2016, it did so with little fanfare and even less marketing. But Netflix execs underestimated the draw of a series that mixed the ‘80s idealism of Steven Spielberg with the horror of Stephen King, and the show soon became one of the streaming service’s biggest flagship series.

The creators of the series, Matt and Ross Duffer (better known as the Duffer Brothers), previously confirmed that Stranger Things 4 would not be the final season, but they also acknowledged that they knew exactly how the show would end. In an open letter to fans shared on Feb. 17, 2022, the Duffer Brothers revealed Season 4 would be released in two volumes, followed by a fifth and final season.

So, let’s get into it, nerds.

The Creators Tease Major Action

According to series co-creator Ross Duffer, Season 5 is different from the previous four installments. “I think what's unique about this season is that it starts a little bit in chaos because our heroes ultimately lost at the end of Season 4,” he told Tudum. “We usually set up their normal life and how they’re going about school, and then we introduce the supernatural element. But in this case, this season is sprinting from the start.”

Executive producer Shawn Levy added, “The action is next level, the visual effects are next level, but I'm also happy to say that the emotional center remains the same.” He continued, “And part of the magic of this show is that even as we evolve, even as the storytelling becomes more epic, it's always anchored in these characters that we love.”

There’s 1 New Cast Member

Although Stranger Things 4, Vol. 2 featured a few deaths, the core cast of kids are heading back to Hawkins for Season 5. Millie Bobby Brown returns as Eleven, Finn Wolfhard as Mike, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas, Noah Schnapp as Will, and, despite her character being in a coma, Sadie Sink will be back as Max.

Natalia Dyer will also be back as Will’s sister Nancy, Charlie Heaton as Will Byers’ brother Jonathan, and Joe Keery as Steve filling out their love triangle. Also coming back: Priah Ferguson as Lucas’ sister Erica, Maya Hawke as Robin, and going off the final shots, Amybeth McNulty as Robin’s love interest Vickie.

The Duffers’ letter also mentioned “a broken police chief” and a “ferocious mom,” which refers to Hopper and Joyce, played by David Harbour and Winona Ryder. Sadly, the Duffers confirmed Eddie is gone, so chances are Joseph Quinn is done with the series.

The Duffers also confirmed there would be flashbacks to fill in Brenner’s years with One and how he became the imprisoned “orderly” Eleven met. That means Matthew Modine will be back, as will Jamie Campbell Bower as One/Henry/Vecna.

And there’s one new face joining the cast. The Terminator star Linda Hamilton will enter Hawkins as Dr. Kay, a government agent who’s searching for Eleven.

The Final Season Has 3 Different Release Dates

After production on the season lasted throughout 2024, release dates were finally confirmed in the summer of 2025. Netflix announced that Season 5 will be released in three parts. “Volume 1” will be released on Nov. 26, 2025, “Volume 2” will be available to stream on Dec. 25, 2025, and bringing the whole saga to a close, “The Finale” will drop on Dec. 31, 2025.

The Episode Titles Are Very Ominous

A Netflix teaser revealed the titles of the final eight episodes. They are: “The Crawl,” “The Vanishing of _____,” “The Turnbow Trap,” “Sorcerer,” “Shock Jock,” “Escape From Camazotz,” “The Bridge” and “The Rightside Up.”

The Full Trailer Is Explosive

Netflix released the first footage of Season 5 on July 16. The explosion-filled trailer doesn’t reveal too many specifics, but instead focuses on the final battle between Hawkins and Vecna, the newly revealed big bad who returns in the video with a chilling two-word warning: “Found you.”

In October, the streamer released its full-length Season 5 trailer. It’s the fall of 1987, and Hawkins has been placed under military lockdown, prompting the gang (excluding Max, who is seemingly still in a coma) to come together to find Vecna and “end this once and for all.” There are plenty of epic battle scenes in the teaser, which ends with Vecna telling Will, “You are going to help me one last time.”

There Will Be Spinoffs

When Netflix announced the renewal of Season 4 in 2019, the streamer also reported an overall deal with the Duffers, promising new stories would come from them. At the time, viewers assumed that included a possible Season 5 and beyond for Stranger Things, even though the statement didn’t explicitly state that.

The Duffers’ Feb. 17, 2022 open letter officially confirmed Season 5 would indeed happen. Although there weren’t many details in the letter, one thing did stick out: the mention of new mysteries to come “within the world of Stranger Things.” So while Season 5 is the end of the series, it’s not the franchise’s end. The Duffers have since confirmed at least one spinoff is in the works.