Next month marks four years since the Netflix series “Stranger Things” debuted and brought millions of viewers into the Upside Down.
Next month will also mark a year since season three released and left fans wondering what happened to Jim Hopper, Hawkins’ chief of police.
July is a big month in the “Stranger Things” world. Here’s the latest on what we know about season four.
Production updates
- “Stranger Things 4” was renewed for a fourth season last September, the Deseret News reported.
- Filming began Jan. 7, 2020, and was originally scheduled to conclude by Aug. 5, according to What’s on Netflix.
- Amid the coronavirus pandemic, production for the season got put on hold in March. At that point, “Stranger Things” was reportedly two episodes into filming.
- “For most places, filming looks to be getting underway in late June or July but there’s been nothing official for ‘Stranger Things’ yet,” according to What’s on Netflix.
When will it be released?
- Originally, fans were expecting the release in 2020. The season — which has eight episodes — has now been officially delayed to 2021, according to IMDb. The first episode is titled “The Hellfire Club.”
What do we know about the storyline?
- When “Stranger Things” got renewed for season four, a teaser accompanied the announcement and indicated that the show would be expanding its world, the Deseret News reported. The clip ended with the words: “We’re not in Hawkins anymore.”
- Expanding the world: The season three ending showed the Byers family and Eleven — who at least temporarily has lost her telekinetic powers — moving away from Hawkins. Hopper was believed to be dead, although a cliffhanger alluded to an “American” in a Russian prison camp.
- A trailer dropped on Feb. 14 and revealed that the beloved character was the “American” and still very much alive — although far away from Hawkins working in a Russian prison camp.
- “It’s not all good news for our ‘American’; he is imprisoned far from home in the snowy wasteland of Kamchatka, where he will face dangers both human…and other,” said “Stranger Things” creators Matt and Ross Duffer, according to the Deseret News. “Meanwhile, back in the states, a new horror is beginning to surface, something long buried, something that connects everything.
- “Season 4 is shaping up to be the biggest and most frightening season yet, and we cannot wait for everyone to see more,” the Duffer brothers continued. “In the meantime — pray for the American.”
- While fans are excited for Hopper’s return in season four, theories about the character’s fate have been rampant — including a theory that Hopper is actually a clone created by the Mindflayer.
- “I know specifically that in Season 4 we will give you a big, huge reveal about Hopper’s backstory,” actor David Harbour said, according to What’s on Netflix.
Cast
- The main cast is set to return, although one notable exception is Dacre Montgomery, whose character, Billy, died in season three, according to What’s on Netflix.
- Three more teenagers are reportedly joining the main cast, according to What’s on Netflix, and Starcourt Mall will see a return.
- “Game of Thrones” star Tom Wlaschiha will be a part of season four, although his exact role hasn’t yet been revealed.