Hawkins, Indiana, and the Upside Down, aren’t disappearing just yet.
Less than a week after the “Stranger Things” series finale debuted, Netflix announced a behind-the-scenes documentary highlighting the making of the show’s fifth and final season.
Titled “One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5,” the film offers fans an inside look at the creative process behind bringing Netflix’s most-watched series to life. The documentary follows the cast, creators and crew as they bring the decadelong phenomenon to its conclusion.
Netflix’s announcement reads: “A decade after rewiring pop culture, ‘Stranger Things’ returns for its final chapter.”
For years, fans have speculated about how the series was made and how it would ultimately end. Now the upcoming documentary promises answers. The film will feature table reads, behind-the-scenes footage from production, and the creative debates over the final storyline and the fate of one major character, as highlighted in the newly released trailer.
“Stranger Things” was created by Matt and Ross Duffer and is produced by Upside Down Pictures and 21 Laps Entertainment. Set in the fall of 1987, the final season follows a group of teens, and a few of their parents, as they set out to end Vecna’s reign once and for all. All episodes of Season 5 are now streaming on Netflix.
The documentary is directed by Martina Radwan, whose previous work includes the 2023 feature “Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow.” Radwan was also a cinematographer on “Girls State,” for which she earned an Emmy, according to Variety. She spent a full year on set documenting the production of Season 5.
“I’m endlessly grateful to the Duffer Brothers for trusting me with a front-row seat to this incredible journey,” said Radwan in a statement. “Spending a full year on set with them was a true privilege — and an absolute thrill.”
Radwan said documenting the final season was “pure joy,” adding she wished she could go back in time to film the making of seasons 1 through 4. She credited the show’s creators with fostering a collaborative environment that pushed everyone involved to succeed.
“From the cast to their long-time collaborators, everyone welcomed me with remarkable generosity openly sharing their personal and collective experiences from a decade of creative filmmaking, always pushing the boundaries,” Radwan continued.
The Duffer brothers said the documentary was inspired by “The Lord of the Rings” behind-the-scenes films, which helped make Hollywood feel more accessible for the pair at a time when the industry once seemed “impossibly far away.”
“We saw how stressed Peter Jackson was and thought: yep, that’s the dream. With the decline of physical media that kind of behind-the-scenes storytelling has largely disappeared,” the Duffers said in a joint statement. “We wanted to bring it back. ‘One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things Season 5′ — beautifully captured and directed by Martina Radwan — is our attempt to do just that.
“If you love ‘Stranger Things,’ or if you’re simply curious how a major Hollywood production comes to life, this one’s for you.”
While the series has come to an end, the world of Hawkins will continue to expand. A “Stranger Things” spinoff series is set to premiere in 2026, as previously reported by Deseret News.
The upcoming documentary is set to premiere Jan. 12 on Netflix.