Key Highlights
- Noah Schnapp had a dream about his younger self from the first season of Stranger Things.
- The cast members have grown up together and remain close friends despite going through puberty at the same time.
- The final season is set in a post-apocalyptic Hawkins under military quarantine, focusing on hunting Vecna.
- Actors reminisced about their experiences working on Stranger Things and how it impacted them personally.
The Final Season: A Nostalgic Journey
As the most monumental series finale since Game of Thrones approaches, the cast members of Netflix’s Stranger Things reflect on their journey. The last episodes of season five, set in a post-apocalyptic Hawkins under strict military quarantine, are expected to release between late November and New Year’s Eve.
Noah Schnapp, who plays Will Byers, had a dream where he hung out with his younger self from the first season. He described it as both familiar and different: “I was like, ‘You’re so cute and little.’ So much has changed, but also nothing at all.”
The Cast’s Reflections
When the cast members met for an interview in a cozy restaurant at a London hotel on a chilly afternoon in late October, they couldn’t help but reminisce about their time together. They shared that every time they reunite, it feels like they’re back to season one.
Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler, admitted that coming to terms with the end of Stranger Things has been akin to a mourning process: “It’s like, when a family member passes away, everyone has their own way of coping with that.”
Gaten Matarazzo, who plays Dustin Henderson, shared his experience working on season five. He felt extra pressure during the first half of filming, determined to go out on a high: “On set, I feel like I was always pretty optimistic. But off set, there would be times or moments where I’d be alone and it’d be like, this feeling of full depression.”
A Mosaic of Growing Up
The cast members have grown up together, acting in the Netflix juggernaut since its debut in 2016. Despite going through puberty at the same time, they insist they’ve never fought – maybe “disagreements,” but never full-on scraps. They’ve been mentally preparing for the end of the show since 2022 when the Duffers announced that Stranger Things would finish with its fifth season.
For Caleb McLaughlin, who plays Lucas Sinclair, the final season is a reflection of his own growth: “Seeing how the world receives Will, and embraces him, has taught me through the years to feel OK in who I am, and how I express myself.”
The Impact on Their Lives
The actors’ experiences working on Stranger Things have had a profound impact on their personal lives. Schnapp shared that playing Will Byers has helped him work out his sexuality: “It didn’t just help find my own identity sexually. As a person, it taught me that it’s OK to be me, as everything that I am.”
Much of the cast’s time together has been spent in and around Atlanta, Georgia, where they filmed season five.
The final shoot was a grand affair with hundreds of people celebrating: “There were champagne tables out, and many had partaken before the shoot finished; the actor likened it to the final day of school, wherein ‘you don’t ac.’
As fans eagerly await the series’ conclusion, the cast members prepare for life after Stranger Things. For them, it’s not just about saying goodbye but embracing the memories and growth that their time on set has brought.
