those of Netflix Stranger Things received praise not only for its original story, but also for the way it incorporated ’80s nostalgia. The series, which debuted in 2016, is set to end with the upcoming Season 5, which will also introduce a new villain: Terminator icon Linda Hamilton.
The actress was confirmed as a new cast member in 2023, although very few details were known about her role. As the show got closer, the Stranger Things the creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, fell apart to The Hollywood Reporter why they chose the 80s legend and his new role. The casting also continues a long tradition of the series.
The new season will bring together fan-favorite characters including Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke and Jamie Campbell Bower. At the same time, it will welcome Hamilton and Nell Fisher to the cast.
Speaking of Terminator star, Ross Duffer explained: “We love bringing in the 80s legends when we can, and obviously we grew up being big fans of her, Sarah Connor. [in The Terminator] He’s a badass.”
Clarifying what Hamilton’s character, Dr. Kay, will do in the new season, they explained that she is as intelligent as Matthew Modine’s character, Dr. Martin Brenner, “whom she replaces.” He emphasized: “But unlike Modine and Paul Reiser, no offense to Modine and Paul Reiser. [who also appeared in past seasons]she can shoot a gun and fight,” which led to “our human villain being physically intimidating as well as intellectually.”
As for Fisher, Matt Duffer stressed that the actress was not part of the plan, but “while we were working on season five, we talked a lot about wanting to recapture some of the spirit of the first season,” which followed young children. On the cast: “They’re old now, so we had to find a real kid to put in the show.”
Linda Hamilton’s casting in season 5 continues a long tradition of Stranger Things
Given the series’ reverence for the ’80s, which includes Easter eggs and inspiration from the works of John Carpenter, Steven Spielberg, David Lynch, and Stephen King, the series has also featured some of the biggest icons of that era. Season 1 introduced Heathers And Beetle juice Star Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers, who has been one of the leading actors ever since.
Season 2 features The Goonies star Sean Astin as Bob Newby and Aliens actor Paul Reiser, and season 3 had The Princess BrideCary Elwes as Mayor Larry Kline. Season 4 added legendary horror star Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street(Freddy Krueger) as Victor Creel. Hamilton is the perfect person to end the franchise, given her role as Sarah Connor in The Terminator franchise, as well as her experience in the sci-fi genre.
Stranger Things returns with Season 5, Volume 1, on November 26, with the rest of the episodes airing on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
- Release date
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2016 – 2025
- Network
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
- Directors
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Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Antal Nimród, Uta Briesewitz
- Writers
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Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock
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Millie Bobby Brown
Jane ‘Eleven’ Hopper
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Finn Wolfhard
Mike Wheeler