Netflix shares ‘Stranger Things 4’ release date and announces final season
Season 4 will be released in two volumes coming May 27 and July 1
Netflix has announced that ‘Stranger Things’ season 4 will arrive in two parts this year, also confirming a fifth and final season.
The first volume will arrive on May 27, with the second coming out July 21. The caption of a poster on Netflix’s Instagram reads: “Yes! It’s coming in 2 volumes, as part of a supersized S4 (nearly 2x the length of S3!).”
Shared alongside a series of posters is a typewriter style letter signed off by ‘Stranger Things’ creators and brothers Matt and Ross Duffer.
“Hi nerds! Do you copy? It’s been a little while,” it reads. “With nine scripts, over eight-hundred pages, almost two years of filming, thousands of visual effects shots, and a runtime nearly twice the length of any previous season, ‘Stranger Things 4’ was the most challenging season yet, but also the most rewarding one. Everyone involved is incredibly proud of the results, and we can’t wait to share it with you.”
It continues that “given the unprecedented length” and to get it to fans as soon as possible, season 4 will be released in two volumes.
“It’s also the beginning of the end,” it continued. “Seven years ago, we planned out the complete story arc for Stranger Things. At the time, we predicted the story would last four to five seasons. It proved too large to tell in four, but –– as you’ll soon see for yourselves –– we are now hurtling towards our finale.
“There are still many more exciting stories to tell within the world of ‘Stranger Things’; new mysteries, new adventures, new unexpected heroes. But first we hope that you stay with us as we finish this tale of a powerful girl named Eleven and her brave friends, of a broken police chief and a ferocious mom, of a small town called Hawkins and an alternate dimension known only as the Upside Down. As always, we are grateful for your patience and support”.
The release has also been teased with a series of posters shared to the Netflix show’s social media.
The first poster features Hopper, Joyce and one more character in an industrial complex with the caption “Every ending has a beginning”. It was shared with the teaser: “001. Russia. Getting the band back together. Bring a jacket”.
One Twitter user commented “Joyce and Hopper reunited”, to which the ‘Stranger Things’ account replied “jopperjopperjopperjopper”.
In a second poster captioned “002. The Lab. Every story starts somewhere”, a figure that looks like Eleven looks down a semi-destroyed hallway.
One user responded “Omggggg is that miss el???? If thats my girlie eleven jane hopper imma drop dead,” to which the ‘Stranger Things’ account replied “eleven jane hopper” with a series of exclamation marks.
A third poster depicts the gang back together as they approach a fiery pit which looks to be a portal to the Upside Down in the “Creel House”.
A fourth poster is captioned “004. California. Hold onto your butts, brochachos”, and show four of the gang walking towards another portal in the street.
Noah Schnapp, who plays Will in the series, commented: Here we gooooooo” and “Ahhhhhhh”, with ‘Stranger Things’ replying: “Screaming so loud they hear me in Russia”.
Episode titles were previously announced, and included: ‘The Hellfire Club’, ‘Vecna’s Curse’, ‘The Monster and the Superhero’, ‘Dear Billy’, ‘The Nina Project’, ‘The Dive’, ‘The Massacre at Hawkins Lab’, ‘Papa’ and ‘The Piggyback’.
Teaser clips have also been released, including a November trailer titled “Welcome to California”, which shows Eleven adapting to a new life and school.
Another trailer from May 2021 featured what appeared to be a flashback sequence from Eleven’s past, an earlier trailer revealed that a certain character may still be alive.