The Netflix sci-fi horror adventure phenomenon Stranger Things has now come to an end, with the recent Season 5 finale proving to be disappointingly divisive. While theories circulate that it’s not all over, fans have been left questioning the fate of certain characters and wondering whether we will ever see these characters again in live-action. Well, Stranger Things creative duo The Duffer Brothers have now revealed the fate of the core cast, aka “The Party,” but do we believe them? In a conversation with Collider, Matt Duffer was asked “point-blank” whether we will ever see the likes of Eleven, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Will, and Max again, or whether Season 5 marks the final time The Party will take to the small screen in live-action. And he didn’t mince words when responding.
“Yes.”
You can’t really get much clearer than that. Matt Duffer leaves zero room for interpretation with his one-word response. Still, considering how much the pair regret their post-finale interviews, and how many of their answers have left things oddly open to debate, it’s hard not to be suspicious of such a stark answer.
‘Stranger Things’ Fans Don’t Believe Matt Duffer: “No Way They Won’t Make a Revival”

Netflix

Despite his attempt to shut down further theories, the revelation that Stranger Things Season 5 is the last time we’ll see these characters in live-action has done little to convince fans. “Let’s see in a few years,” said one user on X/Twitter, with further reactions adding, “When you realise that this is a way to make more money – maybe we bring them back,” and “Duffers when they forget who owns Stranger Things.” The dominant idea among audiences is that, eventually, Stranger Things will be brought back for a legacy sequel series. Though we could be waiting a while. “They’ll do a legacy sequel movie in twenty years set in the early 2000s/2010s,” said another reaction, with this fan thinking there are already clues that this will happen in the future, “There’s no way they won’t make a revival in 10 years or so. That’s the main reason why 11 was not 100% gone.” Whether the Duffer Brothers are keeping something up their sleeves remains to be seen, and while the Season 5 finale may be the last time we see the original gang in live-action, the upcoming animated prequel series Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 will bring them back one more time. From showrunner Eric Robles and Stranger Things co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is set in the Stranger Things universe between Seasons 2 and 3 and finds Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Max facing a new threat from the Upside Down as they “learn that nothing is quite as they thought it was.”

Due for release in 2026, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 recasts the roles for animation, with Brooklyn Davey Norstedt (WeCrashed) voicing Eleven alongside Jolie Hoang-Rappaport (In Your Dreams) as Max, Luca Diaz (Migration) as Mike, Elisha “EJ” Williams (The Wonder Years) as Lucas, Braxton Quinney (Hoppers) as Dustin, Benjamin Plessala (Shameless) as Will, and Brett Gipson (S.W.A.T.) as Hopper.

Release Date

2016 – 2025-00-00

Network

Netflix

Writers

Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock