- Coming in summer 2022
- Appears to be set around Spring Break
- All four teaser trailers have been released
- Season 4's episode titles have also been revealed
- Hopper is in prison in Russia
- Eleven and the Byer family have moved to California
Happy Stranger Things season 4 year, everyone! At long last, the next entry in Netflix's hugely popular fantasy-horror show will be with us soon, with Stranger Things 4 set to land in summer 2022.
It's high time that one of Netflix's best TV series returned to our screens. By the time that Stranger Things' fourth season arrives, it'll have been three years since season 3 aired. Although, the ongoing pandemic has had a major part to play in its delay, so we're willing to give to let that slide. Providing that Stranger Things season 4 is great, that is.
While we wait for the show's next instalment to arrive on Netflix, what do we know about Stranger Things 4? The latest rumors and fan theories have suggested that season 4's most recent teaser trailer has actually dropped a big hint about when it'll land on the streamer. Coupled with apparent merchandise leaks teasing a similar release date, we may have a better idea of when Stranger Things season 4 will launch.
There's more that we know about Stranger Things' fourth season, too. Below, we've compiled the latest news and information on Stranger Things 4, including its confirmed release window, cast, plot, teaser trailers and more. Massive spoilers for Stranger Things seasons 1 to 3 follow, so don't read on unless you're up to date on the show's previous entries.
Stranger Things season 4 release date
Stranger Things season 4 release date: summer 2022
Finally, we have an official launch window for Stranger Things season 4: summer 2022. The announcement came via a trailer, which you can see above, on Stranger Things Day, aka November 6.
Despite the release window reveal, fans are still slightly disgruntled that a proper launch date hasn't been unveiled yet. But, according to a couple of recent fan theories, some diehard fans may have worked when Stranger Things 4 could land on the streamer.
The final Stranger Things season 4 trailer, which you can view below, is the key to those theories. After working out what was on the license plate – 805-45-PIZZA – for a pizza truck seen in the teaser, US-based Reddit fans inputted the plate's digits on their mobile phones to see if it was a hidden marketing ploy on Netflix's part.
Sure enough, it was – fans who rung the number were initially met with a recorded message, which said: "The phone number you just dialed is now active."
Since early January, though, fans who dial the number have been greeted by the Happy Birthday tune. You can check out a video of this happening below:
GUYS HERE... TYPE IN THIS NUMBER TO GET THIS SKSKSKSKSTRANGER THINGS 4 IS COMING pic.twitter.com/P8whDTuLFiJanuary 9, 2022
What does this mean? According to some fans, the Happy Birthday tune relates to one thing only: the airing of Stranger Things' first-ever episode on July 15, 2016.
How does that tie into Stranger Things 4's potential release date? Putting two and two together, fans have suggested that season 4 will debut on Netflix on July 15, 2022 – i.e. the show's six birthday. Add in the fact that July 15, 2022 is a Friday – the day that Netflix usually releases new content on its streaming platform – and fans are convinced that this is when Stranger Things' fourth season will be released.
That's not all, either. Posting on her Tiktok account in late December, user nagrom_ uploaded a video of her opening a box of licensed Stranger Things cereal. Ordinarily, that wouldn't be a big deal, but the expiry date on the top of the cereal box – outside of telling nagrom_ when the contents need to be eaten by – also suggests that Stranger Things season 4 could come out in July 2022.
Of course, we'll have to wait for official confirmation from Netflix about Stranger Things 4's release date. But, given the theories above, Stranger Things season 4 may follow in season 3's footsteps and launch in early July.
Stranger Things season 4 trailer
Stranger Things season 4 trailer: check out the latest teaser
Four teaser trailers have been released by Netflix so far, with the latest – which you can view above – showing that Eleven and the Byers family have relocated to California. Moving to another part of the US, though, doesn't mean that they're safe from the Upside Down. So expect their past endeavours to catch up with them in some guise.
Once you've viewed the above trailer, check out the other three below, starting with the reveal that Sheriff Jim Hopper (David Harbour) is alive after season 3's explosive ending:
Hopper's fate was unknown after he convinced Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) to cause the Russians' machine – which opened a gate to the Upside Down – to self-destruct, despite Hopper being trapped inside.
However, fans had speculated that Hopper didn't die in the blast. When two Russian soldiers said "the American" shouldn't be fed to a captive Demogorgon in a mid-credits teaser, fans thought they knew who the soldiers were referring to. It could only be one man: Hopper, and the teaser above confirmed as much.
Following that Hopper-centric trailer, which arrived in February 2020, four other videos have been released. One is the season 4 launch window teaser, while another is the Eleven and Byers family-focused trailer, both of which you can view above alongside the Hopper in Russia teaser.
So what about the final two? One trailer, which landed in May, teased that Eleven's backstory may be a major part of season 4's plot:
The other, meanwhile, was released during Netflix's Tudum global fan event in September. It gave us a look at Creel House, which was described by one of the Duffer brothers as a "super important location". We also got to see Dustin impersonating Sherlock Holmes, which is pretty funny. Check it out below:
Stranger Things season 4 episode titles
Stranger Things season 4 episode titles: what do they mean?
As promised, here are the titles for each of season 4's nine episodes:
- Episode 1: The Hellfire Club
- Episode 2: Vecna's Curse
- Episode 3: The Monster and the Superhero
- Episode 4: Dear Billy
- Episode 5: The Nina Project
- Episode 6: The Dive
- Episode 7: The Massacre at Hawkins Lab
- Episode 8: Papa
- Episode 9: The Piggyback
Straight away, we can deduce that Eleven's backstory will feature heavily in season 4. Episode 3 sounds like it'll be a flashback to her first encounter with the Demogorgon, episode 6 could be her first 'dive' (when she sits in a body of water and enters another realm), and episode 7 may reveal what happened to Doctor Brenner (Matthew Modine) and Hawkins Lab's staff after the season 1 finale.
Episode 8, too, may look at Eleven's father and daughter style relationship with Brenner. It could also include elements of what happened to Hopper's daughter, which we'll detail more in our plot speculation section below.
What else do the titles tell us? Well, episode 1 is the name of a Hawkins High School Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) club, so we'll be seeing some of Stranger Things' cast attending high school in the season 4 premiere. Episode 4, meanwhile, sounds like it'll be Max-centric, given that her brother Billy sacrificed himself to save everyone in season 3.
D&D fans will also understand the significance of episode 2's title. Vecna is the name of a powerful wizard who becomes a lich during the World of Greyhawk campaign, and has been named as one of the greatest D&D villains of all-time. Will Vecna be tied to a D&D game that occurs in season 4, or could he be related to Creel House in some way? This isn't the first time that Stranger Things has used D&D as an inspiration for its villains and the Upside Down, so we wouldn't be surprised if Vecna's Curse relates to someone or something in season 4.
Episode 5 may be referencing Nina Kulagina, a Russian woman who claimed to have psychic powers. Hmm, a person with superhuman abilities... where have we heard that before? We won't be surprised if this relates to Eleven (and number Eight, aka Kali from Stranger Things 2) and the experiments that were performed on them by Brenner in the 1980s.
As for episode 9: we don't know. It's the season finale so, even if we had some idea of what it meant, we wouldn't want to spoil it here. We'll find out more when season 4 arrives next summer.
Stranger Things season 4 plot
Stranger Things season 4 plot: what's it about?
While there isn't an official synopsis yet, we've been receiving a steady trickle of information from the cast and crew – and all signs point towards season 4 being darker than its predecessors.
Joe Keery, who plays Steve Harington, told Total Film that season 4 will be the "scariest yet", and David Harbour revealed (per Deadline) that Hopper's journey this season will be "painted in a bit of a darker palette."
Speaking to The New York Times during the Black Widow press tour, Harbour also stated that movies including Alien 3 and The Great Escape had inspired season 4. We imagine that both are tied to Hopper's arc specifically, though, given that he's in a Russian prison and there's a Demogorgon nearby.
In another interview, this time with Entertainment Weekly, Harbour expanded on some of season 4's other plots: "You'll see a lot more layers about Eleven and Brenner and the institution and what she went through and is going through that relates to this narrative coming back. And then there's this new Creel House thing, which is this new element of a situation in Hawkins, which of course all relates."
Chatting to Entertainment Tonight, too, Harbour also hinted that fans would see a major moment, in Hopper's backstory, revealed during season 4. According to Harbour, it's something that goes right back to the "first frame of the first season". It might be worth preparing ourselves for something to do with his deceased daughter Sara, in that case, so make sure you have a tissue or two handy when that episode rolls around.
Meanwhile, it sounds like Mike Wheeler will be keeping himself busy without Eleven around, too. Speaking to NME, when asked what Mike would get up to in season 4, actor Finn Wolfhard simply replied: “I’ll just say he’s visiting someone…”
In a separate ET Online interview, Maya Hawke was asked about Robin's season 4 story arc. Hawke didn't give anything away, but she did hint that the Duffer brothers "really dig into her this season".
Sadie Sink, who plays Max Mayfield, has also hinted at what season 4 will entail for her character. Speaking to Elle magazine in November 2021, Sink said: “I'm really happy with where Max's storyline went for season four. I think you see a different side of her that I'm really excited to share with everyone.”
Finally, Noah Schnapp, who portrays Will Byers, has suggested that his character will get something of a break from all the Upside Down business in Stranger Things 4. He told Showbiz Cheat Sheet: “It [season 4] is definitely leaning into horror as it always does, but it also has some playful aspects too. I get to be part of the less scary storyline this season which was really fun. I’ve never laughed more and had as much fun as I did this season.”
welcome to the world of stranger things.where r u going first??? #strangerthingsday pic.twitter.com/WMS0QxJAnjNovember 6, 2021
There are also plenty of unresolved plot threads from season 3. Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) has seemingly lost her powers, while Max will be dealing with the fallout from brother Billy's death. Speaking to Glamour, Sink hinted that Max will be in a "very different place", and that this could be "geographically or mentally or perhaps both".
Leaked set photos also appear to show Eleven will be involved in some sort of accident in season 4.
The images (published by Metro UK) appear to show the fan-favorite character being wheeled out on a stretcher, towards an ambulance, by two paramedics. In another photograph, police and the US army inspect the site where a building has collapsed.
Naturally, it's unclear what this means for Eleven's arc in season 4. Given that she lost her abilities in season 3's finale, though, the two incidents may be linked. It's that, or Brenner has found and kidnapped her, so he can continue his sinister experiments.
Stranger Things season 4 cast
Stranger Things season 4 cast: who is playing who?
The TV show's core cast will reprise their roles for season 4:
- Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers
- David Harbour as Detective Jim Hopper
- Millie Bobby Brown as 'Eleven'/Jane Hopper
- Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler
- Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson
- Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair
- Noah Schnapp as Will Byers
- Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler
- Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers
- Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield
- Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley
- Joe Keery as Steve Harington
Brett Gelman, who played conspiracy theorist Murray Bauman in seasons 2 and 3, has also been bumped up to a series regular. Meanwhile, Priah Ferguson, Matthew Modine, Joe Chrest and Cara Buono will also reprise their roles as Erica Sinclair, Matthew Brenner, Ted Wheeler and Karen Wheeler respectively.
Meanwhile, in November 2020, Variety also revealed some of the new faces we'll be seeing in Stranger Things season 4:
- Jamie Campbell Bower (Sweeney Todd) as Peter Ballard, a caring orderly at a psychiatric hospital.
- Eduardo Franco (Booksmart) as Argyle, Jonathan's new best friend, who is a fun-loving stoner and pizza-delivery boy.
- Joseph Quinn (Catherine the Great) as Eddie Munson, an audacious metalhead that runs Hawkins High's D&D society, The Hellfire Club. At the centre of this season's key mystery.
- Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street) as Victor Creel, a disturbed, intimidating man imprisoned in a psychiatric hospital for a gruesome murder in the 1950s.
- Tom Wlashicha (Game of Thrones) as Dmitri, a Russian prison guard who befriends Hopper.
- Sherman Augustus (Virus) as Lt. Colonel Sullivan, an intelligent, no-nonsense man who believes he can stop the evil consuming Hawkins for good.
- Mason Dye (Teen Wolf) as Jason Carver, a handsome, rich sport star, whose perfect world unravels as evil spreads.
- Nikola Djuricko (World War Z) as Yuri, a Russian smuggler.
- Tyner Rushing (Lovecraft Country) as Virginia Creel, a relative of Victor's.
- Joel Stoffer (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D) as Warden Hatch.
Bower, Franco and Quinn's characters have been added as main cast members, while the others will be recurring throughout season 4.
everything is going to be FINE in Stranger Things 4, absolutely no cause for alarm #StrangerThingsDay pic.twitter.com/bGKAOPei8YNovember 6, 2021
Finally, four new cast members were revealed as part of the Netflix Geeked Week event in early June:
- Amybeth McNulty (Anne With an E) as Vickie, a cool, fast-talking band nerd who catches the eye of one of our beloved heroes.
- Miles Truitt (Queen Sugar) as Patrick, a Hawkins basketball star who has friends, talent and a good life... until shocking events send his life spiraling out of control.
- Regina Ting Chen (Queen of the South) as Ms. Kelly, a popular guidance counselor who cares deeply for her students – especially those struggling the most.
- Grace Van Dien (Charlie Says) as Chrissy, Hawkins High's lead cheerleader and the most popular girl in school. But, beneath the seemingly perfect surface, lies a deep secret.
Additionally, Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries) appeared to hint that she may have a cameo role in Stranger Things 4. Posting an image on her personal Instagram account, Dobrev captioned a photography outside Hawkins High School with "Stranger Things have happened". It's unclear if she's just taking a picture with an iconic location from the show, or if Dobrev is teasing her involvement in season 4. We suspect it's the former, but we'll have to wait and see on that front.
Will Stranger Things still have the same magic when it returns after all this time? We're hoping so. It's been a very long wait for Stranger Things 4, and we're hoping that the care and attention it's received means that it'll be the series' best entry yet.
No comments:
Post a Comment