Stranger Things Stars Endure Grueling 1-Year Shoot for Epic Final Season

As the cast of Stranger Things gathers for the Los Angeles world premiere of the show's fifth and final season, they reflect on the gargantuan task of shooting the epic conclusion. According to the stars, including Finn Wolfhard, Charlie Heaton, and Joe Keery, the filming process was a true "marathon" that lasted nearly the entirety of 2024.

The actors describe the production as a grueling experience, with Heaton noting, "It's hard. When one person's down, then the rest of the cast or crew is like, 'All right, man, let's go!'" Wolfhard adds that the crew, particularly the camera operator Nick Müller, went to extraordinary lengths to capture the season, with Müller training for a year in advance to be able to handle the demanding schedule.

Despite the challenges, the cast and crew remained dedicated to bringing the beloved series to a satisfying conclusion. As Millie Bobby Brown explains, "The stamina is truly the fact that we all love and care about it. The crew, they are so invested in bringing it to life that I think that truly drives the stamina of it all." The final season, which will be released in two volumes starting on November 26th, is set to include four episodes that range from 54 minutes to nearly 1.5 hours in length, culminating in a 2-hour series finale that will screen in theaters nationwide.