After officially kicking off the fifth and final season of Stranger Things with a grand premiere in Los Angeles on Thursday, the cast and creators reunited for a special For Your Consideration (FYC) event on Saturday — giving fans a few more hints about what’s coming in the show’s highly anticipated conclusion.
The event featured stars Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, and Jamie Campbell Bower, alongside creators Ross and Matt Duffer and executive producer Shawn Levy. Attendees — including awards voters — were treated to an early look at the first episode of Season 5 before the team sat down for an in-depth conversation about the series’ decade-long journey.
Millie Bobby Brown Says She “Channeled Her Inner Tom Cruise”
Speaking about her evolution as Eleven, Millie Bobby Brown revealed that Season 5 will see her character take on a more physical and action-driven role than ever before.
“I feel like the Duffers have been training me for this moment,” Brown said, reflecting on a decade of portraying the telekinetic teen. “It was really exciting to be more of a resource this season — not just because of her powers, but because of the physical training and challenges she’s taken on.”
The actress joked that she “channeled her inner Tom Cruise” during filming, adding that Volume One only hints at what’s coming next. “I can’t wait for everyone to see where that leads,” she teased.
Noah Schnapp Jokes About Will’s Suffering, Duffers Tease the End
Noah Schnapp, who plays Will Byers, poked fun at his character’s constant misery, saying, “I love when I get to smile in the show — it’s rare!” He shared that he meticulously mapped out the entire season before filming since Stranger Things shoots scenes out of order and juggles multiple storylines.
In response, Ross Duffer quipped, “Good thing there’s not a season six, or we’d be writing you out,” drawing laughs from the crowd.
Linda Hamilton Joins the Cast — and Brings the Firepower
The Duffers also discussed new additions to the cast, most notably Linda Hamilton, the legendary star of The Terminator.
“We love bringing in ‘80s icons whenever we can,” Ross Duffer explained. “Sarah Connor was such a badass — and Linda brings that same energy here.”
He noted that Hamilton’s character will serve as a human villain, describing her as “intelligent like Dr. Brenner, but capable of fighting back — both physically and mentally.”
Returning to the Spirit of Season One
Matt Duffer revealed that they cast young actress Nell Fisher as Holly Wheeler this season, a move meant to capture the essence of Stranger Things’ early days.
“As we were writing Season 5, we realized we wanted to bring back some of that Season 1 magic — that sense of childhood wonder and danger,” he said. “Our main cast has grown up, so we needed an actual kid to bring that energy again.”
He joked about the old Hollywood advice to never work with kids or animals — admitting the dog from Season 1 “didn’t hit his mark” and was quietly written out with a fake grave. Brown quickly chimed in, laughing, “So basically, we’ve lost our energy, and now we’re being replaced!”
Behind the Scenes and Release Details
The evening also featured a Q&A with Stranger Things crew members, including costume designer Amy Parris, sound designer Craig Henighan, VFX supervisor Betsy Paterson, hair designer Sarah Hindsgaul, and composers Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein.
The final season of Stranger Things will roll out in three parts, premiering on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve, exclusively on Netflix.
Final Words:
With its cast all grown up, emotional goodbyes looming, and big action set pieces on the horizon, the final chapter of Stranger Things promises to be a heartfelt and explosive send-off to one of the most iconic shows of the past decade.
