GENERAL:
It appears that filming was originally set to begin in May, 2023. The writers strike and the actors’ strike postponed it.
It is reported that filming season 5 began on January 8, 2024.
It will have 8 episodes. Only one episode title has (so far) been released - episode one will be called “The Crawl”. The length of episodes will not be extreme (unlike season 4) except that it is reported that the last episode may be long (on the order of 2.5 hours). UPDATE - new sources including Maya Hawk are indicating that all 8 episodes will be “long”, each one like a movie in itself. We may have a 16 hour season coming our way!
The first scene of the Crawl will have a child singing a familiar song in the cold woods – Hypothesis (courtesy of President Smith): The child will be Will Byers, in Castle Byers, weakly singing “Should I stay or Should I Go?” from season 1.
It is reported that filming will take about 1 year. Thus, filming will end late 2024/early 2025.
Judging from the white board (deliberately blurred) which the Duffer brothers posted -there will be four main story lines.
The Duffer brothers have said that things will “come full circle” in season 5, with the groupings of characters resembling those that we saw in season 1.
The Duffers have stated that a “primary focus” will be on Will Byers.
The Stranger Things writers have tweeted that it will have “something small but awesome” in common with the Evil Dead Rising. (This is apparently a veiled reference to Nell Fisher, who will be joining the cast as Holly Wheeler and who appeared in Evil Dead Rising).
Noah Schnapp agrees: “I can just tell you that I'm very very excited for what's to come. I think they did a great job with Will's character this season, and beautifully addressed everything they needed to. The way they closed the show is just perfect — the story started with Will, and it’ll end with Will.” The Duffers have also told Noah that he will be “very happy” with his season 5 story line.
The Duffers have stated that season 5 will connect to earlier seasons in “unexpected ways”. They have also said that some ideas originally proposed by the writers for season 2, which did not make it into season 2, will be a part of season 5.
A bulletin board image from the school shows a poster on energy conservation, which references the US Department of Energy. Does this mean the Department of Energy is back in season 5?
The ending will be “beautiful” according to David Harbour.
When the Duffer brothers briefed Netflix executives on the ending, some of the Netflix executives were in tears.
The death of Eddie will have “major repercussions”. Eddie’s grave will be seen in an early episode, with Dustin visiting it.
In early May, 2023 Sadie Sink went to Croatia to film a movie to be called “O’Desa”- she would not have been available for the first part of the filming of ST 5 if it had started filming on schedule – this would suggest that she knew that she would not be needed to film the first 30-60 days of filming ST 5- she would obviously have cleared her absence with the Duffer brothers. It also suggests that the role of Max will be limited or non-existent in the first few episodes of ST 5.
Will’s powers- Will thought that he was sensing the Mind Flayer, but now realizes he was actually sensing Vecna. Will’s ability seems to have a range - he apparently could not sense Vecna when he was too far from Hawkins. But in season 5 it looks like he will be back in Hawkins - does that indicate we will see more use of Will’s powers to detect/track Vecna? Is Will still a spy? Can he spy on Vecna (his conversation at the end of season 5, with Mike, indicates that he has insight into what Vecna is thinking).
After season 2, Shawn Levy made the remark that we would see El’s mother again, and she still had a bombshell to drop. So far, that has not happened. Maybe the plans have changed. But, maybe, we will see El’s mother again in season 5 - and the bombshell is yet to be dropped. (Could this be one of those “ideas that was proposed for season 2 that did not make it into season 2?)
A note posted by the Duffer brothers contains the line “For the record, Rubik’s cubes aren’t even a good measure of intelligence”. Presumably, this is a one-liner that one character will utter, probably in episode one or an early episode. To me, it sounds like something Dustin would say.
David Harbour, in an interview at Motor City Comic Con, has stated that “Byler” will not happen.
Released stills who Vecna walking through the flaming ruins of downtown Hawkins, past lots of dead soldiers.
Gaten Matarazzo, on reading the final script: And after finally, recently having read everything that's going to be on the page, it really was like this overwhelming beam of light that surrounded the whole crew and cast. . . . I remember we finished reading it, and it was just like a pure reminder of family. That's like what the show is to all of us, and to be at wrap-up is intense, to say the least."
David Harbour on reading the final script: "I think to have it all come back full circle... We just read… we just did a read-through of the last episode and the amount of crying... Like the episode is very beautiful. But there's also a deeper level of that... this was actually their childhood. They were 11 years old and grew up and fought this monster. And I've never seen so much heavy, heavy weeping from teenagers or young adults in my life.”
Recent set photos have shown Robin (Maya Hawke) driving Joyce’s car and following an ambulance to Hawkins Memorial Hospital.
Gaten has remarked that “The rest of the town, obviously, [are] now finally well aware that some s**t is going down”
TIMING:
It will likely be set around Christmas 1987 (a 20 month time jump - see below for more details). An online request for applications to be background players also included a solicitation for owners of vintage cars to submit their cars to be used in filming season 5. Cars were being sought made in 1988 or older.
See “Taylor Made Casting” on line for further details.
A bulletin board image was released by the Duffer brothers, showing an apparent poster from Hawkins High School, which included a Christmas reference. The Christmas bulletin board is an appeal for food donations because times are tough in Hawkins.
The Department of Energy poster from Hawkins High School, released by the Duffer brothers, includes a reference to “Saturday, November 21". Saturday fell on November 21 in 1987.
A close-up of a watch that Lucas is wearing seems to give a date of “Thursday, November 12" – November 12 fell on a Thursday in 1987.
Therefore, Season 5 will be set in November of 1987 and might possibly extend into December 1987.
ACTORS
There was a casting call for young adults to play high school students during filming in January 2024 – this would suggest that the scene which will involve these h.s. students will likely be in an early episode of season 5. (The use of young adults as high school students is likely an attempt to make the roughly 20 year old stars “blend in” with the background players).
There was another casting call for kids to play students and adults to play teachers (at Hawkins Middle School?) in April 2024.
There will be no new “major” characters introduced.
Potential new minor character: Derek: 8-10 years old, male, American, any ethnicity, overweight. An outsider with no friends, he is rude to adults—and a bully to those his age. (There was a casting call for an overweight, caucasion body-double age 9-11 – this would probably relate to the same character).
Potential new minor character: April: 8-10 years old, female, white, American. Active and inquisitive, she is a happy, friendly kid.
So, why is Derek “any ethnicity” but April must be white? Well, one possibility is that April will be related to some character we have already met who is white.....
A second casting call has gone out for a photo double for a NOT overweight, blond boy (5 feet tall, 90 pounds) to appear in ST5 - THEORY - they will have a flashback to young Henry Creel, at about age 10-11, and explain how he got his powers. This photo-double will stand-in for whoever is playing young Henry Creel. In support of this theory, I would point out that they have been seen filming in Rome, GA at the “Creel House” set - which seems to have been made to look 1950's again, and not the dilapidated “haunted” house of 1986.
CONFIRMED: Linda Hamilton will join the cast. Unconfirmed: Her role will relate to Vecna’s background. Possible flashback?
VERY DOUBTFUL: There is an internet rumor that Jodie Foster is joining the cast. (The Duffer brothers have denied that Jodie Foster is joining the cast).
CONFIRMED: Nell Fisher will join the cast to replace the Price twins in the role of Holly Wheeler.
It is clear that Colonel Sullivan will be back as a human adversary for Eleven. His return would suggest that Dr. Owens and Agent Stinson will also be back.
Vecna will, of course, be back.
Max will be back - since she did not die, it is strongly implied that she survived for a reason- to play some role in the events of season 5. The fact that Sadie Sink is being paid just as much as Finn, Gaten, Caleb and Noah would suggest a major role for her in season 5 (by the way, each of them will get almost $7 million for season 5).
Vickie will be back -there is no reason to introduce her in season 4 if you are not going to use her in season 5. (As of 12/23, she is listed as a cast member in episode 1)
I think Suzie will be back. She has not had too much to do but surely the Duffers would not have cast someone with her Broadway background to only use her for about 8 minutes of total screen time.
Argyle will NOT return.
The return of Enzo and Yuri is problematic. Yuri apparently still lives in Alaska and Enzo (presumably with this family) has fled the USSR. But why would either of them end up in Hawkins? Early cast photos of the cast of season 5 do not include the actors who portrayed Enzo and Yuri.
Andrew Bassett is listed on IMDB as appearing in episodes 1, 2 and 3 of season 5. He will be portraying a Hawkins High Student, and will apparently be a background player.. But does this mean we will see Hawkins High in at least the first 3 episodes?
Eleven and the Byers will not return to Lenora Hills. There is no reason for them to do so. Therefore, we will see no more of Angela or Angela’s sidekicks.
Will we see Victor Creel again? I think not - he has nothing further to add to the story line and Robert Englund is a prominent (and expensive) actor - but it is a bit unsatisfactory that he was simply left in the mental hospital.
Chief Powell - This will be interesting in season 5. Hopper is now fixing up his cabin and will presumably be living there with Eleven. But everyone in Hawkins thinks that Hopper died in the fire at the Starcourt Mall. “Dead” Hopper will soon be seen all over Hawkins. And how will Chief Powell react? (How will the rest of Hawkins react?) How will his sudden reappearance be explained?
Joseph Quinn, in an interview with ET, teased the return of Eddie: “When pressed on whether he has any doubt about Eddie Munson making a return, especially since many fans have a feeling that could happen, Quinn said, "I might have that feeling too." Quinn has also indicated to a fan that he could not tell the fan if he would be returning to the role of Eddie in season 5 - if he was not returning, why not just say “no”? Finally, he told an interviewer that he knows the plot of season 5 - if he is not involved in the production, how does he know how the plot ends?
PLACES
It will be primarily set in Hawkins.
Benny’s Burgers will apparently be back – fans who were visiting ST filming locations in March 2023 visited Tiffany’s Kitchen (which is the filming location for “Benny’s Burgers”). Apparently, staff at Tiffany’s Kitchen told them that ST would be filming at Tiffany’s Kitchen in May, 2023. The staff, of course, would be in a position to know, since the restaurant will have to close for a week or so for “set dressing”, then filming, the removing the props and “set dressing” and getting Tiffany’s Kitchen back in order. (However, again, at the time this remark was made, the workers at Tiffany’s Kitchen would not have known that the strike would postpone things).
Bradley Big Buy will apparently be back (this is the store where El shoplifted eggos).
They are filming in a rural area at a building that is being made to look like an abandoned radio station. The Wheeler’s station wagon has been photographed there, and so has a delivery truck for Bradley’s Big Buy. It is beginning to look that the radio station will be a major location in season 5. (The location is west of Palmetto, GA and at 9375 Hutchesons Ferry Road).
The McCorkle Farm will apparently be back. They have been filming at a farm set, plus the released chase(?) scene information states that it will happen at the McCorkle farm.
The iconic school bus from seasons 1 and 2 will be back, apparently at the same location (the junk yard) as in prior seasons.
They are filming hospital scenes again- set photos have been released showing the interior of the hospital. This makes sense with Max apparently still in the hospital.
They are filming at a mansion located (reportedly) in the Stone Mountain area - no idea what role it will play in season 5.
Approximately episode 4, there will be a scene (a chase?) involving Steve?, Dustin, Nancy and Jonathan in a car. This chase will apparently occur on the McCorkle Farm.
They are filming at the Claremont Mansion in Rome GA (the “Creel House”). It is not apparently being decorated to look like the Upside Down or to appear to be dilapidated, which would suggest that the scenes being filmed there are flashbacks to the 1950's.
The school will be back. In April, 2023, there was mowing and general clean-up at the school location - which is now abandoned and awaiting demolition. The only reason to clean it up (after it has set empty for about 2 years) would be if it was being prepared for use in filming Stranger Things. (Obviously, when they cleaned up the school in April, they had no idea that the strike would then postpone production). (Report from early 2024- they are filming at the school.)(September 2024 - the school is being torn down - this would indicate they have finished with their need to film there)
They have filmed at a church set- apparently fairly extensively.
Downtown Hawkins will be barricaded, with watch towers and barbed wire. A complete duplicate of the town square of Jackson GA has been constructed on the back lot of Screen Gems studios. It will apparently sustain lots of damage during season 5.
