As Stranger Things nears its end with the upcoming season 5, the Duffer Brothers have opened up about the bittersweet experience of working on the show for nearly a decade. During an interview with Variety, the Duffer Brothers acknowledged the emotional toll that comes with saying goodbye to a story and a cast they’ve grown so close to. Matt Duffer said,
I’m never going to spend 10 years on something again, I don’t think, where you become this much of a family with the people who are working on it. It was really hard. Each day was saying goodbye. Each of those a tors only had to say goodbye once. Ross and I had to do it different times. Every time I’m like, ‘I’m not going to break!’ And I broke every time.
While the success of the series has brought them fame and opportunities, it has also come with a significant emotional toll, especially as they prepare to say goodbye to the story and characters they’ve worked with for so long.
The Duffer Brothers Had to Remind Ac tors Not to Get Too Emotional
The emotional weight of filming the final season of Netflix’s Stranger Things was felt not only by the creators but also by the cast. According to Ross Duffer, they had to frequently remind the actors to cheer up during certain takes because they were getting too emotional too early in the scene. Ross said,
It was hard to even get through take after take. You’re just going, ‘They were feeling every moment of this.’ Occasionally, they were actually too emotional in moments when it was too early in the scene. ‘We’re like, ‘You’re not supposed to be upset yet!’
Joe Keery, who plays Steve Harrington, also admitted to the emotional challenge, saying,
Everyone was looking forward to being done, but then you get to the finish line and think, ‘Oh, man, can I just have one more?’
Maya Hawke, who plays Robin, shared her experience of the emotional toll: “I did spend 12 hours in a rolling cycle of weeping.” Noah Schnapp said he was at Winona Ryder’s place on the last day, “I was holding onto her, just sobbing. I did not expect it to hit me so hard.”
The cast’s emotional connection to the show made it even harder to finish. All of these narratives are just hinting that the final season will be a tear-jerker of a season. Get ready for the emotional roller-coaster.
The Duffer Brothers Wanted Theatrical Release of Stranger Things Finale
While Stranger Things became a global streaming success, the Duffer Brothers wanted a theatrical release. They believed it would offer a better opportunity to experience the show’s sound and visuals in full. But sadly, Netflix didn’t agree with them. Matt said,
People don’t always get to experience how much time and effort is spent on sound and picture; they’re seeing it at a reduced quality. More than that, it’s about experiencing it at the same time with fans.
Netflix opted for the streaming-only format that’s worked so well for the series. Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, explained that Stranger Things has already fostered a strong community and conversation through streaming. That’s enough reason to emphasize Duffer Brothers’ shift from Netflix to Paramount.
However, their collaboration with Netflix isn’t over yet. Two new shows from their Upside Down Pictures are gearing up for a 2026 release. The two shows, The Boroughs and Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, will hit Netflix in the early half of 2026. The animated show, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, is currently without a release date.
As the final season is released in three parts later this year, fans will get to experience the end of an era. It will probably leave a lasting impact on the audience, too.
Are you ready for the final season of Stranger Things? Let us know your thoughts and predictions.
Stranger Things Season 5 Part 1 will premiere on November 26, Part 2 on December 25, and the Finale on New Year’s Eve on Netflix (US).
